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Manchester United manager Marc Skinner says his players have the “boots they need” for Thursday’s deciding Champions League qualifier at home to Norwegian side Brann.

Last week, United officials had to buy replacement boots from a local shop in Bergen, where Brann are based, after the players’ were lost before the first-leg defeat in Norway.

The boots’ absence was not noticed until the day of the game as United had trained at the club’s Carrington base just outside Manchester before departure.

Club officials arrived at the Torshov Sport shop less than three hours before kick-off at 16:30 local time and bought 15 pairs of boots and 20 sets of shin guards.

“I would imagine we have got the boots [this time]! They have been training with them so they have them sorted,” Skinner said on Wednesday.

“Everything is fine. The players are ready.

They all had the boots they needed for the [first leg] so there were no excuses and they took it really well.

“It was one of those things you don’t want to happen, but it does happen. I don’t know where the [lost] boots are but we’re living in a modern world where boots can get sent very quickly so all the players have them now.

“They might not be the same ones but they are the boots they need for the game on Thursday [19:00 BST kick-off].”

United are looking to secure a place in the main Women’s Champions League draw for the first time in their history.

They will be without defender Millie Turner at Leigh Sports Village as she was taken off on a stretcher in the second half of their 5-1 win over London City Lionesses on Sunday.

“It’s a knee injury. We’re still assessing but it’s not an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial collateral ligament (MCL) – it’s not the structure of the knee,” said Skinner.

“We are just looking at the knee cap. She has another meeting at the end of this week and when it settles down, we’ll know more.

Former world champion Ricky Hatton was “excited for the future” before his death, say his family.

The Briton, who was 46, was found dead at his home in Manchester on Sunday.

Police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

Hatton’s family said that “to all our knowledge, despite his well-documented struggles, Richard was in a good place”.

“We are all in shock at the events that unfolded over the weekend,” read a statement posted to his Instagram account.

Hatton spoke about battling depression and in 2023 was the subject of a documentary in which he discussed his personal life and mental health issues.

His family said Hatton was found by friend and long-time manager Paul Speak.

Hatton won 45 of his 48 professional bouts during a 15-year career and was world champion at light-welterweight and welterweight.

He last fought professionally in 2012 and was due to fight Eisa Al Dah on 2 December in Dubai.

Organisers said it would be a professional bout, but it was unclear whether it would be fully sanctioned.

The family said: “His bag was packed ready to go to Dubai to promote a comeback fight and he was planning a celebration in Dubai, which his beloved girls Millie and Fearne were to be the centre of.

“He was excited that they would see him fight for the first time in person. He was a doting grandfather and loved spending time with Campbell and Lydia.”

Former world champion Ricky Hatton was “excited for the future” before his death, say his family.

The Briton, who was 46, was found dead at his home in Manchester on Sunday.

Police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

Hatton’s family said that “to all our knowledge, despite his well-documented struggles, Richard was in a good place”.

“We are all in shock at the events that unfolded over the weekend,” read a statement posted to his Instagram account.

Hatton spoke about battling depression and in 2023 was the subject of a documentary in which he discussed his personal life and mental health issues.

His family said Hatton was found by friend and long-time manager Paul Speak.

Hatton won 45 of his 48 professional bouts during a 15-year career and was world champion at light-welterweight and welterweight.

He last fought professionally in 2012 and was due to fight Eisa Al Dah on 2 December in Dubai.

Organisers said it would be a professional bout, but it was unclear whether it would be fully sanctioned.

The family said: “His bag was packed ready to go to Dubai to promote a comeback fight and he was planning a celebration in Dubai, which his beloved girls Millie and Fearne were to be the centre of.

“He was excited that they would see him fight for the first time in person. He was a doting grandfather and loved spending time with Campbell and Lydia.”