In his teen years, a professional deal at Sunderland was in the balance, but it was Henderson's well-known dedication and attitude which swung the decision in his favour.

Henderson has lifted the Champions League and is on the verge of winning the Premier League and Bruce insists he saw Henderson's devoted attitude and sense of authority straight away.

Ghana were on the verge of becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final when they were awarded a penalty in added time of extra time after a Luis Suarez's handball.

The Senegal winger was hardly a shrinking violet, courting controversy with remarkable regularity before, during and after his time in England. Diouf's feud with Gerrard is just the tip of the iceberg.

SPECIAL REPORT: Sportsmail previously revealed that majority shareholder Stewart Donald used Sunderland's parachute payments to finance the majority of the £37m purchase of club.

KIERAN GILL: If only those Netflix cameras were stationed at Sunderland in 2007-08. Oh to be a fly on the wall for Roy Keane's first season as a manager in the Premier League.

After a four-hour match against Roger Federer, Andy Murray has a day less to prepare for the final than Novak Djokovic. But Andy is a very fit guy, and I’m not sure it makes that much difference.

The first thing Andy must do is forget the Verdasco match: it’s ancient history. Tennis is a problem-solving game and Andy successfully solved the problem. What was it? Maybe he played a little too defensively in the first two sets and, not unreasonably, expected the Spaniard to miss more than he did.

Where I come from this is what I call a popcorn match, it’s the type that you just want to sit back on the sofa and enjoy — and for me it is that kind of one-off contest which is too close to call.

Andy showed a lot of class and a lot of fight on Sunday. His dismantling of Novak Djokovic was a thing of beauty to watch. From the first ball, the crowd was engaged. I thought that was the most important factor.

During my spell working for the Lawn Tennis Association, I remember this skinny kid as a junior with a dream single-handed backhand — Dan Evans.

Andy Murray's former coach Brad Gilbert tells you all you need to know on the top men's seeds at this year's Wimbledon Championships.

Andy Murray's former coach Brad Gilbert tells you all you need to know on the top women's seeds at this year's Wimbledon Championships.

There is an 800lb elephant in the room for this Australian Open semi-final in the shape of Dani Vallverdu, Andy Murray's former assistant, but my advice would be: don't make it personal.

I doubt that Tomas Berdych will be saying anything to Andy Murray again on court in a hurry after the Scot was riled by the World No 7 into an emphatic four-sets victory in their tense semi-final.

BRAD GILBERT: I had Novak Djokovic as strong favourite for the Australian Open title but now I am not so sure. I am feeling increasingly good vibes about Andy Murray. Djokovic has struggled.

BRAD GILBERT INSIGHT: Wednesday's French Open men's quarter-finals will see two tantalising battles with Andy Murray up against David Ferrer, while Rafael Nadal faces Novak Djokovic.

Sportsmail's tennis guru Brad Gilbert gives his expert analysis on the 10 women to watch as the Wimbledon Championships get under way at the All England Club on Monday.

Sportsmail's tennis guru Brad Gilbert gives his expert analysis on the 10 men to watch as the Wimbledon Championships get under way at the All England Club on Monday.

BRAD GILBERT: Two aspects of Murray’s play in this tournament have impressed me: the way he is being more aggressive on his second serve and his aggression on his backhand.

BRAD GILBERT: The attention on Jo Konta will only multiply if she takes what I think is a realistic opportunity to beat Angelique Kerber and make the Australian Open final.

BRAD GILBERT: The former top-five player and coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Murray, picks nine players who may seal Wimbledon glory and looks at the tournament’s bolters.

BRAD GILBERT: You can easily be distracted by the quirky routines in Jo Konta’s serve, those little skips and the odd way she bounces the ball — but don’t be fooled.

BRAD GILBERT: Playing a long match against Rafael Nadal can be like drinking eight pints of Guinness - you can feel it for quite a long time afterwards.

Brad Gilbert, the former coach of Andy Murray and Andre Agassi, gives his lowdown on the men and women to watch this fortnight at SW19.

The 2019 Wimbledon Championships get underway on Monday. Sportsmail 's Brad Gilbert gives his view on the top contenders in both the men's and women's tournaments.

Froome stands to become Britain's first Grand Tour winner and add a seventh title to his collection after 2011 Vuelta a Espana champion Juan Jose Cobo was found guilty of a doping violation.

MATT LAWTON IN PARIS: Wiggins and Thomas believe Team Ineos will continue to dominate the Tour de France with a young Colombian cyclist who could turn out to be the greatest in history.

The 39-year-old was the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012 and took Olympic time trial gold just days later, but said he no longer wants to be defined by his sporting success.

He is one of a select few holding two of most coveted prizes in British sport - the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and a knighthood - but Sir Bradley Wiggins 'smashed' them up.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, from London, has revealed he won't be pushing his 'very talented' son into becoming a professional cyclist - claiming that doing so to bask in the reflected glory would be 'cruel'.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: It is a very peculiar form of racism that affects Mo Farah. It is the same racism suffered by Bradley Wiggins, by Galen Rupp, or even Maria Sharapova.

CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There are certain people whose position of trust is so great that lying in a professional capacity is unacceptable. And Freeman was acting in a professional capacity.

MIKE KEEGAN: Questions over the 'integrity and credibility' of former Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton will be used as part of Dr Richard Freeman's defence over the delivery of banned testosterone.

Sir Bradley Wiggins has launched a bizarre foul-mouthed tirade at Mickey Mouse during a recent trip to Disneyland Paris. In the clip, the Olympic legend can be seen shouting obscenities at the resort.

MARTIN KEOWN: During the Invincibles season, I saw opponents line up next to Henry and Co in the tunnel. They'd ask them if they could swap shirts afterwards, before we were even on the pitch!

MARTIN KEOWN: Mourinho should start with a back three and inject pace into it. Vertonghen, 32, and Alderweireld, 30, aren't the quickest. Eric Dier could offer Mourinho that much-needed pace.

MARTIN KEOWN: It's March 21, 2015. Leicester have just lost 4-3 to Tottenham and sit bottom of the Premier League, seven points from safety. Harry Kane has helped himself to a hat-trick.

MARTIN KEOWN - INSIGHT: They may have dropped points at Old Trafford in October but Liverpool could strike back with their most emphatic performance of the season on Sunday. 

MARTIN KEOWN: Forty-one players have scored five or more goals in the Premier League this season and the most clinical finisher of all of them has been Jamie Vardy.

MARTIN KEOWN - BOOT ROOM: Another round of Premier League fixtures kicks off on Saturday, but not as we know it. In the winter break eight teams will play this weekend, with the others the one after.

A television programme does not run for seven years unless it's a great success, and Saint and Greavsie on ITV was just that. Between 1985 and 1992, the forgotten man would entertain the nation.

MARTIN KEOWN: Norwich's best showing this season came in their 3-2 Premier League home win over Manchester City in September. They will need to repeat everything they did on Saturday.

MARTIN KEOWN: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez could be the best defensive partnership in Premier League history. They will want to secure the silverware.

Chelsea's season is at a crossroads. Finishing inside the top four is in their hands, but Frank Lampard needs to fall back in love with his players first. 

INSIGHT - MARTIN KEOWN: As the ultimate tactician, Pep Guardiola tries to push the boundaries, and we saw an incredibly fluid set-up from Manchester City.

MARTIN KEOWN: There is no such thing as being too good to go down. I remember hearing that when I was a player with Aston Villa in 1986-87, before we were relegated to the Second Division.

MARTIN KEOWN - MY VERDICT: Liverpool's sudden defeat gives me a renewed sense of how remarkable an achievement Arsenal's Invincibles season was.

KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Liverpool have lost back-to-back games but can learn from Arsenal in 2002 who went on to become the Invincibles in 2003-04.

MARTIN KEOWN: Mauricio Pochettino was sacked after things went stale and Jose Mourinho was brought in to win trophies. But it feels as if Mourinho is setting his side up to be passive.