Sir Bobby given Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award

Sir Bobby Charlton was to be given the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in person at the Laureus World Sports Awards in London on Monday evening but that couldn't happen because he underwent minor surgery on Monday, understood to be to remove a gallstone.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson added: 'Sir Bobby is fine, but it was felt he should go back to Manchester. He is very annoyed not to be here to receive this Award. I'll be taking the statuette back to Old Trafford for him.

'He loves the work he does for Laureus and I know how delighted he is to have received this tribute. It was already a very emotional night for Bobby. This is the 54th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, when we lost eight of our young players. Through that time, Bobby has kept his fantastic humility, and that makes him very special to me.