Jono

34, BA (Hons) Sports Coaching Graduate, Co-Founder of @sportscubed ,MUFC fan, Runner, 10km- 39.02, HM-1h29mins49secs, Marathon-3h43mins42secs

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

It all came down to the final stretch in the men's elite 10k race at the Great Manchester Run 🏃

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital after falling unwell at Old Trafford shortly before Manchester United's match against Liverpool.

Sources stressed it was a precautionary move and not an emergency situation as Ferguson was taken from the stadium in an ambulance.

Club officials are optimistic Ferguson will soon be fit enough to return home.

[Ezzy @EzzyMUFC]

Wtf is this performance, still don't understand why shea lacey is still playing for the U-21😭😭
https://t.co/jqSYgOa5K3

[Manchester United Forever @UtdForever7]

🚨How is Maguire’s foul given but NOTHING on Amad??

Same situation, completely different decisions — absolute joke. We’ve been robbed here.

@FA_PGMOL — This is a JOKE!!

#MUFC

https://t.co/2kILTcTljn

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@Strava @StravaSupport hi

All of my runs seemed to have disappeared. Please can you let me know what has happened.

Thanks

[Manchester United @ManUtd]

It was only ever United.

[Manchester United Forever @UtdForever7]

🚨I dare you to find ne ONE normal goal in this clip..👀👇

#MUFC

[Sky Sports Premier League @SkySportsPL]

Comms Cam! 🎥

@Carra23 and @GNev2 react to Liverpool's draw with Manchester United at Anfield 😨

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

Does anyone know how to get your @Strava how do you get your year in review. I looked at mine last week.

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@Strava how do you get your year in review again (I looked at mine last year)

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Marcus Rashford had a day off today so he returned to his old primary school, Button Lane, south Manchester, and handed out 420 Christmas presents to all the pupils. It was a long-planned event, eliciting delight from the children. One boy scarcely more than four years old, had a special message for the Manchester United striker. “Thank you for the food as well, Marcus.”

Rashford will leave United one day, possibly in the January window given the mood music inside Carrington, but his influence will remain with many children across the country following his ongoing work tackling child food poverty. “It was emotional to hear that, 100%,” Rashford told me of the four-year-old’s words of thanks. “I don’t like to see kids go through what I went through growing up so as many kids as I can help I will. That's why the programme needs to go on for as long as possible and it needs to keep improving.”

Wherever you stand on the Rashford debate, and he certainly generates headlines, he has been a force for good in so many children’s lives. One of the Button Lane teachers said that Rashford’s present will be the only one some of the 420 kids receive this Christmas. Another pointed through the window to the 3G five-a-side Rashford funded.

Some balance is required in the current Rashford debate. I was shown some of the DMs he receives on a regular basis and they are utterly despicable. There are rumours of a lack of professionalism. “I do feel misunderstood but I’m fine with it. I’m a very simple person. I love football. That’s been my life from the beginning.”

At 27, and having scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for United (and 17 in 60 for England), Rashford remains a huge talent, and will be in demand, possibly from Spain, when he leaves United. Yes, he could do more on the field, certainly out of possession. Yes, he was dropped from Sunday’s match-day squad against Manchester City by Ruben Amorim, who questioned his application in training. “It’s disheartening to be left out of a Derby,” Rashford replied, “but it’s happened, we won the game so let's move on. It’s disappointing but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.”

He awoke this morning to headlines detailing United’s desire to sell him. I ask Rashford if he’s staying or going? “For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps.” All of his words were prefaced with respect for the club which has been his home for almost 20 years. “When I leave it's going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.

"If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me.” From the heart as he’ll always be a Red? “Yes! 100%. 100%.”

He’s 27, peak time for a player, combining experience and athleticism, and he should be embedded in a team, creating an even bigger legacy. “I’m halfway through my career,” Rashford replies. “I don’t expect my peak to be now. I've had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So I don't have any regrets from the last nine years. I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.” The best is yet to come? “100%. That's my mentality.”

He craves an England return and chance of making the 2026 World Cup. “That still excites me. It's playing for your country in the biggest competition in the world. I've had the chance to do it before (Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022) and it's an unbelievable experience. If I got the opportunity again, I'll try and grab it with both hands.”

Even though he has scored three times for Amorim, the new head coach’s 3-4-2-1 system does not appear to suit Rashford. The player himself makes a point about his adaptability, whether left wing, No 9 or No 10. “I have traits to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural to me, some positions I have to train more and do a bit more tactical (work). The left side suits me the best.” But Amorim doesn’t play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. He plays with two 10s. “The left 10 still suits me but you have to adapt your game. The biggest skill-set is adaptability. People might not see it but eventually they'll see I’ve played in plenty of different positions under all the managers.”

If his days under Amorim look numbered, Rashford will pursue his dreams elsewhere. The last time Rashford returned to Button Lane, he was asked by a young girl “what’s your biggest achievement?” He replied, “I haven't achieved it yet.”

That attitude echoes his love of “Relentless”, the book by the American mindset guru Tim Grover. Rashford’s not fallen out of love with football, he’s still aspiring to achieve things in the sport that’s his world. “Definitely, regardless of what gets said about me I have my own dreams. I’ve achieved parts of it. But I’m not at where I want to be. But the problem is when you get there, you create another thing. It’s a cycle that never stops. There’s not really an end point.”

Just the pursuit of excellence. Rashford needs to intensify that pursuit. He has the talent. And it looks like that talent will move away from #MUFC. He will still return to Button Lane. Marcus Rashford won’t forget where he came from. Nor will he forget United.

[AW @AthleticsWeekly]

WORLD BEST

Jacob Kiplimo has set a stunning world best over 15km, with 40:42 at the ZevenHeubenloop 7 Hills Race in Nijmegen 🔥

It's the fastest time in a standalone 15km, although Kiplimo went through 40:27 in his then half-marathon WR of 57:31 🇺🇬

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@UKRunChat has anyone good recommendations for trainers with a wide toe box. Struggle with PF issues as well. Running and fashion recommendations 👍

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@Awaydays23 @cjwatterson

[CNS Coaching @coach_clint_]

#England Passing Practice
Players working in groups of 4, 2 servers & 2 working inside. 2 footballs working at same time

>Open body shape when receiving to play forward
>Receive on back foot/let ball roll across body
>Make it competitive with inside players

FOLLOW US FOR MORE!

[AW @AthleticsWeekly]

🇬🇧 Almost 1000 British runners at the Prague Half Marathon today.

First Brits home were Ugur Altan of Belgrave Harriers with 71:39 (men) and Lauren Hall of AFD with 75:30 (women). 💪

📽️ @RunCzech

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@1902ForLife @meSana220 @AMAZlNGNATURE Were is this?

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@Marathon_Mcr Do they put services on getting into Manchester on the morning of the race?

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@Marathon_Mcr what time do trains start running from Chorley on marathon day? Do you put on extra services

[Jono @jonomurphy7]

@Marathon_Mcr How is it getting into Manchester before start time. Do most people stay over on the Saturday night?