Olav Kooij of the Netherlands led home a Jumbo-Visma one-two on the opening stage of the Tour of Britain in Manchester on Sunday, with team-mate Wout van Aert launching his bid for the overall title...

Sean Dyche says Jordan Pickford answered his critics with a crucial double save in Everton’s 2-2 draw at Sheffield United. Pickford recovered from scoring an unfortunate own goal earlier in the game to ensure his side left Bramall Lane with a point, miraculously denying Oli McBurnie twice at the death. He tipped a header onto the underside of the crossbar and then recovered to turn the follow-up effort onto the post as Everton got their league season up and running after three successive defeats. Pickford and his team-mates have come under the spotlight following their winless start to the season, but Dyche believes the England goalkeeper proved himself. “Like everyone, he had some question marks recently because the team were conceding big moments,” Dyche said. “Every player should be questioned because that’s the world we live in. Every top player gets questioned, that is part and parcel of being a top professional. It should be a stimulus if anything. “But it shows again what a top keeper he is, I thought his all-round performance was very good. “He was very unlucky with their second, quite obviously, and made two fantastic saves, when it is really important to do so. If that goes against you everyone is scratching their heads, but he made sure it doesn’t happen. “The madness of football, we could have ended up losing it; Jordan makes those saves at the end and you think ‘how mad is football?’ – it would have been an injustice if it went against us but it didn’t.” Abdoulaye Doucoure scored Everton’s first Premier League goal of the season as they went ahead early, but Cameron Archer’s first strike for the Blades levelled things up. Archer was involved again soon after as his shot hit the post and rebounded off Pickford’s back and into the net as the Blades took a half-time lead, only for Arnaut Danjuma to level after the break. Pickford then came up with his heroics and Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom knows his side need those moments to go in their favour this season. “It’s an unreal save, the second one he doesn’t know too much, it hits his head and the post, but it’s a big moment,” Heckingbottom, who also saw his side earn their first point of the season, said. “It’s another example of why we love the game and how fine the margins are. “We are not stupid, we know that we are going to need a lot of those moments to go in our favour this season, of course we are. Today it didn’t. “But I can’t grumble, I think it was a really good game and probably a fair result.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jack Dempsey ready for ‘epic’ World Cup as Scotland mainstay There is no substitute for international cricket – England’s Jonny Bairstow Day five at US Open: Novak Djokovic avoids shock as Iga Swiatek upsets best mate

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Michael O’Neill believes Ethan Galbraith can raise his level after leaving Manchester United as a free agent this summer. The 22-year-old midfielder is hoping he can this week add to his two Northern Ireland caps – he earned the last of them back in 2020 – after being called into O’Neill’s squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers away to Denmark and at home to Kazakhstan despite his uncertain club future. Galbraith made only one senior appearance in six years with United, featuring in the Europa League in 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but has no shortage of potential suitors after impressing during loan spells at Doncaster and Salford in the past two seasons. O’Neill, who said he had received “a number of phone calls” from clubs asking after Galbraith, said it was now up to the player to choose a team where he can establish himself. “He’s now in the next phase of his career, when you maybe see the best of a player in his career when he’s not a loan player,” O’Neill said. “He’s spent the last two years as a loan player, initially at Doncaster and then Salford. But now I suppose in a way, the safety net of Manchester United is pulled away. “I know that from dealing with loan players at Stoke and sometimes you get the best version of a player in that situation. “I think Ethan knows that, we’ve had a conversation about that. What’s important for Ethan is what he chooses to do next but what he’s shown us in the last few weeks is that his appetite for the game is there, he’s a quality player and he’s demonstrated his quality on the ball. “He just needs to find the right club with the right manager to get the best out of him.” What’s important for Ethan is what he chooses to do next but what he’s shown us in the last few weeks is that his appetite for the game is there, he’s a quality player and he’s demonstrated his quality on the ball Michael O'Neill on Ethan Galbraith Galbraith’s return to the Northern Ireland senior squad comes at a time when O’Neill remains without several regulars through injury. Jonny Evans has returned but Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Shane Ferguson remain sidelined, with O’Neill once again relying on youth to keep qualification hopes alive. Among the five uncapped players in the squad is 23-year-old forward Lee Bonis, who is attracting interest in England himself after his 15 goals in 36 appearances helped Larne claim the Irish League title in April. Bonis was among several fresh faces called into post-season training camps by O’Neill as he ran the rule over candidates to plug the gaps in his squad. It was an opportunity he seized, finding out last week he was in the squad when he got an email while on a bus back from camp. “I was looking to go to sleep, but after that it was all a bit of a shock,” Bonis said with a laugh. “(My friends and family) were delighted for me to be fair, because they knew I always wanted to play for my country. It’s a big, massive step. But they’re not even asking how I am, they’re asking how everybody else is. ‘What’s Jonny like? What’s Craig (Cathcart) like?’ But they’re all happy for me.” O’Neill has already compared Bonis with Blackpool forward Shayne Lavery, himself back in the squad after injury, suggesting he could go to England and make a similar impact despite only turning professional 18 months ago. “I played with Shayne when I was younger,” said Bonis, recalling their time together at Portadown. “He was a workhorse. I think everyone agrees if you work hard you’ll get your rewards. I’ve always been told to run the defence riot. If you work hard you’ll get the ball back and then you’ll have a chance.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Kylian Mbappe tells Paris St Germain he will not extend his contract – reports Matt Fitzpatrick fully focused on US Open defence despite confusion over merger Jack Grealish revels as Manchester City parade treble

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