Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has made a pick-me-up call to pro boxer Anthony Crolla.

The 28-year-old suffered a fractured skull and a broken ankle in a confrontation with two alleged burglars he spotted fleeing a neighbour's back garden in Chadderton, Greater Manchester. Crolla was hit with a concrete slab during the altercation and required a plate and pin in his ankle and 12 stitches to a head wound.

The assault has forced him to pull out of January's WBA world lightweight title bout against Richar Abril.

Crolla told Sky Sports: "My phone rang and I was with my trainer Joe [Gallagher]. I honestly thought it was a wind up because that's what my mates are like.

"I was going to put the phone down but then I realised it was him and couldn't believe it. It's nice of Sir Alex to ring me. I was a bit star struck on the phone."