Paul Scholes insists Benjamin Sesko must start up front for Manchester United ahead of Sunday’s derby showdown with Manchester City, unconvinced by Matheus Cunha’s role in the team.

Sesko averaged a goal every 85 minutes under Michael Carrick last season but is still to start a game this term having missed the entire pre-season campaign with a shin issue.

Cunha has led the line against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton with Sesko off the bench in the second-half in each of them.

The Slovenia international looked to have secured a big win for United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, meeting Luke Shaw’s cross with a fine header before Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ stunning equaliser at the death.

Bryan Mbuemo and Marcus Rashford have started the season well on the right and left respectively but Carrick’s attack has been missing a true focal point with Scholes not convinced Cunha can provide that.

Most of the Brazilian’s football in Manchester since arriving from Wolves last year has come playing on the left with the United legend unsure what his best role in the side is.

United welcome City to Old Trafford on Sunday with Scholes hoping Carrick makes the decision to start a recognised centre forward.

‘I felt it was really timid against Everton,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football. ‘There was no aggression and Everton were there for the taking.

‘There was so much space and they never went for the throat. The centre forward position is a bit of an issue because he is not playing Sesko.

‘He is a focal point. It is very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre forward. With Cunha, we don’t really know what he is, a no10 or a wide player but he’s definitely not a no9 and watching United without a no9 is a struggle.’

City head to Old Trafford with a 100 per cent record having won their opening three games of the new season.

United meanwhile have taken four from a possible nine.

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Constant scrolling can create more problems than you think.

Many of us are guilty for sitting on our phones or tech devices for hours on end after a long day of work. While it can be an easy way to relax, being on your phone “too much” can actually be having an affect on your health.

Issuing a warning that some people may want to cut back on their phone usage, ITV’s resident doctor Amir Khan has taken to social media to share his advice.

While he does admit that phones have become a regular part of our daily lives, from keeping in contact with family, checking the news or streaming a new show, it can also be doing more damage than you think.

Taking to TikTok yesterday (September 7), the NHS GP has shared a few ways too much time phone use can affect your health. In the clip, he said: “Phones are amazing. We depend on them for lots of different things and for many people they are a lifeline. But constant scrolling can do more to your body than you think.

Below are five science-backed effects that may make you think twice about spending extra time on your phone after a long day.

Five ways excessive phone use can impact your health

1. Digital eye strain

Otherwise known as computer vision syndrome, spending too much time on your devices can have an impact on your eye health.

According to Dr Amir, your blink rate can drop up to 60 per cent when you stare at screens. Drying out the surface of your eyes, this can cause headaches, blurred vision and eye fatigue.

To combat this, he recommends taking a break every 20 minutes and to go outside in nature. This will help as your eyes will be able to switch between focusing between items that are nearby and far away.

2. Tech neck and posture changes

The GP said: “Tilting your neck forward by 60 degrees to look at your phone increases the load on your neck to around 27kg. That is like carrying a seven-year-old on your neck all day.”

Over time, this can lead to muscle strain and could potentially change the curvature of your spine. Along with taking regular breaks, you should aim to do some neck exercises.

3. Sleep disruption

The blue light from your phone screen can suppress melatonin, which signals when it is time to go to sleep. Dr Amir warns that even 30 minutes of phone use before bed can delay you falling asleep, as well reduce deep restorative sleep.

4. Mental Health

The Good Morning Britain doctor adds: “Multiple studies link high screen time with increased rates of anxiety, depression and reduced life satisfaction, especially in teenagers and young adults.”

Due to constant notifications on our phones, the brain is kept in a state of alert which stops it from resting. It is important to keep meeting up with friends and family in person to keep the connection strong rather than staring blankly at your screen.

5. Reduced physical activity

Quite self explanatory, the more time we spend on your phones the less time we are engaging in physical activity. Constant sedentary behaviour has been linked to a variety of worrying health conditions, such as obesity, higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

These concerns can also arise even if you exercise later in the day. The doctor advises moving regularly as “sitting is the new smoking”.

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 09:20 BST, 8 September 2026 | Updated: 11:44 BST, 8 September 2026

A donkey handler has violently attacked a female activist protesting against the use of the animals to transport tourists on the Greek island of Santorini.

The woman was among a small group of German activists demonstrating on the Karavolades steps – a steep, scenic route where donkeys and mules are used to carry holidaymakers – when the incident unfolded. 

Footage appears to show the activist walking away from a man brandishing a stick when he suddenly raises his hand toward her, hits her in the face and pushes her against a wall. 

The woman then lets out a scream and falls on to the paved steps as other activists yell: ‘Don’t touch her!’

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She is then seen screaming and crying as onlookers rushed to her aid. 

Separate footage taken before the incident shows a group of donkey handlers surrounding the group of activists and telling them not to take photos, as one man appears to shove a camera out of a woman’s hands. 

One man is seen holding a stick, while another yells at the activists to leave and threatens to call the police. 

The activists are part of the animal rights group Peta. The organisation condemned the incident, which occurred while a small group of female activists were protesting at the steps.

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Footage shows the moment a donkey handler attacked a German Peta activist in Santorini

The shocked woman was seen sitting on the steps crying and covering her face after the attack 

Video grab shows one of the donkey handlers holding a stick as he tells the group of activists to leave

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Peta Germany said the men ‘destroyed their protest signs and tried to prevent them from filming further’, adding they ‘roughly grabbed the young women, insulted them and forced them down the steps. At times, they pushed them against a wall. One of them punched one of the young women in the face.’

‘The animal rights activists wanted to make a statement against the exploitation of donkeys as “tourist taxis”. On Santorini, donkeys are forced to drag travellers up the 500 steps from the port of Fira to the town in sweltering heat. The Peta activists planned to demonstrate to locals how to climb the stairs in an innovative and animal-friendly way using robotic legs—so-called exoskeletons,’ it added. 

Peta Germany also said it will file criminal charges against the donkey drivers who attacked the activists, and has asked tourists who witnessed the incident to get in touch.  

For decades, donkeys and mules in Santorini have made countless journeys up and down hundreds of cobbled steps on the cliff-side path that leads to the town of Fira.

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The plight of the donkeys, which are marched from fields at dawn in hot temperatures, has been condemned by locals and tourists but the practice continues. 

In recent years, there has been an increase in donkeys suffering spinal injuries, saddle sores and exhaustion, while images on social media showing overweight tourists riding donkeys have sparked anger. 

A five-cabin cable car was introduced on the island leading to donkeys being used less frequently by travellers ascending the steps.

When the volcanic isle became a popular tourist hotspot, attracting up to 17,000 holidaymakers each day from cruise ships, demand for the donkey rides increased again.

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The animals walk up in lines of two to ten, offload at a ‘donkey station’ just before the summit of the steps and then return for their next load, often bumping into walkers or squeezing them into walls that look over steep drops.

In recent years, thousands of people have signed petitions calling for the use of donkeys to carry tourists to be banned. 

Wayne Rooney believes Michael Carrick has been ‘left short’ by Manchester United’s hierarchy after the summer transfer window.

United focused on bolstering Carrick’s midfield options in the summer window as the club spent around £150 million on the signings of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba.

A move for Lewis Hall was also considered but United opted not to submit an offer to Newcastle United, who had no interest in selling the 22-year-old left-back.

Rooney feels United needed to sign a left-back to provide support for Luke Shaw and also insists a new striker was required to ease the burden on Benjamin Sesko, who is yet to start a Premier League game this season.

‘I just felt, and the Everton game showed me what I felt as well, they [United] were the better team, had a lot of control in the game, but a lack of a No.9, so for whatever reason Sesko is not fully fit, he missed pre-season,’ Rooney said on Stick to United.

‘Lacking a No.9, full-back position in terms of competition for places.

‘I thought Luke Shaw was really good [against Everton], possibly could have got closer for the first goal but I thought he played really well, and that connection with Rashford was good.

‘But I think with Dalot and Mazraoui coming on, for a team who want to compete and compete at the top end of the Premier League, great getting back in the Champions League but you want to get in the Champions League and try to compete as well. Are we going to win the Champions League? Probably not, you never know but probably not.

‘But you want a squad of players who are going to compete and I think Michael has been left short on that.

‘Luke is not going to play every game, Dalot and Mazraoui coming on at left-back, again, we’re seeing too many players player in unfamiliar positions to them. And I think that’s where the club should have went out and got players to help.

‘You would certainly be asking questions. I know Michael has come out and said he’s happy with the players they’ve got in. I don’t think any manager is happy, you always more more, more players and help for your team on the pitch.

‘The back line I don’t think is the strongest. Harry Maguire is probably the first-choice centre-back, then you’ve got Martinez who has got his injury problems, Heaven, who has got a lot of potential and I really like but it is potential and we’ve not seen enough of him. Full-back area is a big concern.’

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If Ashe can help 23-year-old Shelton earn his first career win over Alcaraz, there is guaranteed to be an American player in the final.

Home stars reaching the men’s semi-finals has not been uncommon this century, but only Taylor Fritz has reached the final – two years ago when he lost to Jannik Sinner – since Roddick was beaten by Roger Federer in the 2006 final.

Tiafoe, who is seeded 11th, lost to Fritz in another all-American semi-final and was also eliminated by Alcaraz at the same stage in 2022.

Now the 28-year-old is aiming for a third opportunity to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Tiafoe reached the Cincinnati final last month and, thriving off the energy of the New York crowd, has maintained his momentum.

On what it is like to receive such support, he said: “It’s an out-of-body experience, no question. No real explaining that type of feeling.

“It’s like you’re not even touching the ground at one point. Energy is so high, and it seems like the level of play matches that.”

While Tiafoe is one of the sport’s great entertainers, 22-year-old Michelsen is more understated.

The world number 46 admits he has been happy to fly “under the radar” at Flushing Meadows while the likes of Tiafoe, Shelton, Fritz and Tommy Paul soak up the attention.

But earning a place in a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time, and not dropping a set on his way, means Michelsen will find himself under the spotlight on Ashe.

“First, second, third rounds, all matches I’m feeling nerves. It’s a human experience,” he said.

“But it’s just about going out there and managing them to the best of my ability. I feel like I’ve done that very well.”

Man Utd fans are set to protest against the club’s treatment of season-ticket holders amid the ticket-touting operation fiasco

Manchester United fans are set to protest against the club’s controversial operation to tackle ticket touting before facing Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

United received widespread backlash from some of their most loyal supporters in July following the launch of an investigation into touting, which caught some innocent fans in the crossfire.

The club described their operation to address touting as “successful”, but recognised that “some innocent supporters may have been affected” and apologised for the inconvenience during the process.

The Manchester Evening News spoke to several angry United season ticket holders across the summer following emails from the club alleging they had broken ticketing terms and conditions.

The fiasco brought together the various United fan groups, who took the unprecedented step of releasing a joint statement condemning the operation and demanding transparency from the club.

Now, United supporter group The 1958 have announced they will protest against the ‘season ticket banning crackdown’ before the Manchester derby, declaring that ‘a line has been crossed’.

A spokesman confirmed: “Manchester United supporter groups are being called upon to all stand together following reports of bans and season ticket sanctions without clear and compelling evidence always being presented.

“For generations, match-going Reds have given their time, money and loyalty to Manchester United, home and away. That loyalty deserves to be treated with respect.”

The 1958 have urged supporters to gather peacefully outside The Bishop Blaize pub near Old Trafford in a show of unity from 3pm on Sunday.

The spokesperson added: “This is not about one group or one individual. It is about how Manchester United treats its match-going supporters. It may not affect you today, it may not next time but that day is coming for all of us.

“ALL REDS. ALL GROUPS. ONE VOICE. SHOW THE EVIDENCE. LIFT THE BANS.

“Supporters are now facing serious sanctions which can remove their right to attend matches. We believe nobody should face such action without being told clearly what they are accused of and being shown the evidence used to justify it.

“This goes beyond individual supporters or supporter groups. If this approach is allowed to stand, it should concern every match-going Red.

“Whatever differences have existed between supporter groups in the past, this is a time to put them aside. A call has gone out for Manchester United supporter groups, Fans’ Forum representatives, supporters’ clubs and independent fan organisations to stand together on a simple principle:

“If there is clear, substantive evidence of serious wrongdoing or organised ticket touting, show it. No loyal supporter should be treated as guilty without being given a fair opportunity to understand and challenge the case against them.”

Over the years, I’ve accumulated various Carl Friedrik luggage items, including the carry-on hybrid in silver and tan, the Granville weekender in chestnut, and the compact weekender in nubuck. Durable, stylish and designed for ease while on the go, this trio has travelled with me around the world, from Marrakech to Vietnam and Australia.

Ioan Rhsy Jones general secretary of teaching union UCAC, said: “Whatever your views on Pisa as a way of assessing education, this year’s results are disappointing.

“However, it must be acknowledged that Pisa only provides a quick snapshot of the education system, across a limited range of skills. We must also remember that only a sample of schools participate in these tests every three years.

“Having said that, it is clear that there is a need to plan improvements, and attention should be accorded to basic skills across the country.

We can only hope that the Curriculum for Wales, once fully established, will provide

a solid foundation for learners and that the new Foundation Literacy and Numeracy

Framework will be a means to plan, benchmark, and ensure national improvement in

the years to come.

It is crucial that all improvement plans consider all aspects of education, including

the community and the home. We would welcome robust financial investment in our

schools, therefore leading ultimately to an improvement in standards. The education

workforce is currently working hard under challenging circumstances. Hopefully, we

will see the present government appreciating the importance of investing in

education, thus providing solid and strong foundations for our students, who are our

future.’

The suspect has been named by police as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese background.

He was known to police and has committed a number of crimes, officials said. He had previously been sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison, but the sentence was commuted to parole.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the suspect had been radicalised.

German media outlets are reporting he is a supporter of Islamic State group (IS), and tried in the past – unsuccessfully – to join the organisation.

He attempted to travel to Mauritania via Turkey in May 2025 but failed, later travelling to Lebanon via Turkey with intention of heading to Syria and joining IS, according to the public prosecutor’s office.

While in Lebanon, he is alleged to have made contact with individuals he believed were IS members, and was later arrested in Lebanon in July 2025, where he spent three months in prison.

After his release, he returned to Berlin in November 2025, where he was arrested at the airport and held in pre-trial detention until May 2026 and had been ordered to take part in a de-radicalisation programme.

He is believed to be connected to the rented vehicle found abandoned in the park.

The police statement added that several people are reported to have been injured with stabbing weapons in the attack.