Brown back on recovery road

Defender Wes Brown last night took his first step back on the road to a place in England's World Cup squad as he emerged unscathed from his comeback run-out for Manchester United reserves.

The 22-year-old, who has been out since the beginning of December after damaging medial knee ligaments, played a full 90 minutes at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground as United beat Oldham 4-1 in the Manchester Senior Cup.