Thornton has ridden 952 winners over jumps in Britain in his career

Jockey Robert Thornton has been offered help from Manchester United's medical team as he recovers from knee surgery.

The 32-year-old needed an operation to repair ligaments after a fall while riding for Paul Nicholls in July.

Thornton told BBC Gloucestershire: "It was mentioned to me from Paul Nicholls, because I was riding for him, and he trains horses for Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I'm hoping it's going to be back end of September, early October - it'd just be a privilege to go up there."

Thornton wants to wait before going to Old Trafford, so that he can get back to a stage where he can do more work and benefit more under the guidance of the United medical team.

If it comes off it'll be fantastic Robert Thornton

Although the offer crosses boundaries of two different sports, it is even more surprising considering Thornton is known to be a Liverpool fan.

Thornton said: "It'll help me ten-fold, people are paying fortunes to do something like that so if it comes off it'll be fantastic.

"It'd be amazing, top physios - they'll show me plenty I'd have thought."

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