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Baby arrival ends mystery on Sane’s exit

There was speculatio­n ahead of the weekend as to just why Manchester City striker Leroy Sane had suddenly quit the Germany squad and the answer is

– to rush to his girlfriend’s side for the birth of their daughter. The winger, who missed out on World Cup selection and who has been criticised by senior members of the German squad, recently met with coach Joachim Low on Friday and then sparked a Twitter avalanche when he quit the squad. Low said Sane had withdrawn from preparatio­ns for their game with Peru “for private reasons”. German daily

Bild reported that Sane’s partner Candice Brook had given birth late Friday, with reaction from Sane’s father. “My grandaught­er was born yesterday [Friday]. We’re very happy, her name is Rio Stella,” Souleyman Sane told Bild. Sane,

22, missed Germany’s disappoint­ing World Cup campaign in Russia but was brought back by Low into his first squad since the tournament. He came off the bench towards the end of Thursday’s 0-0 draw with France in Munich in their first game in the inaugural Uefa Nations League.

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Farah willing to ‘mix it’ with marathon hopes

Mo Farah will have history in his sights today as the British star chases a record fifth Great North Run title. Victory in Newcastle this weekend will make Farah the first man to win the Great North Run five times. That would be the perfect preparatio­n for the 35 year old ahead of his appearance at the Chicago Marathon in October But the former Olympic champion is getting more confident. “I’m still learning and understand­ing more and I’m not afraid to mix it in,” Farah said. “In 2014, I was afraid to mix it because it was their territory and I was a track runner. But now I’m not afraid of anything. It’s a totally different challenge and I’m enjoying every day of it. My goal is to win a major marathon.”

▷▷▷ Twenty months of pain is over for Luck

It has been 20 long months since Andrew Luck played in an NFL regular-season game. He is certainly eager to get back on the field. The 28-year-old quarterbac­k makes his return today when the Indianapol­is Colts host the Cincinnati Bengals. Luck missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his passing shoulder. There were times when Luck worried whether his right arm would ever return to form but those doubts have been put aside. “I feel really good, and I’m really excited,” Luck told reporters. “I feel like I’m in shape, I feel I can make all the throws that I need to. I’d like to think that I can keep improving as a quarterbac­k.”

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