Former England striker Andy Carroll has thanked the public for their support after speaking publicly about being sexually assaulted by a man.

Carroll, 36, feared he would never fully recover from the trauma of the incident, which happened at his home in 2021 during a second spell at Newcastle United.

The perpetrator, a friend of Carroll’s former partner who was away at the time, was jailed for 20 months in 2023 after being convicted of sexual offences.

Carroll identified the man as television dance coach Kevin Adams in an interview with the Sun. Adams appeared on the BBC series Fame Academy in 2002.

Speaking to the Football Uncensored podcast, Carroll said the response to going public with his experience had been overwhelming.

“I’ve been beating myself up about it, and as soon as I’ve said it the support that I’ve received has been massive,” he said.

“And I think that’s the main thing really for me, that if I said that five years ago when it happened, maybe I would have felt a lot better now and then got over it.

“I’m happy with who I am, I’m happy with how I’ve dealt with it, and I’ve got the support around me with my partner, my family and friends, and now the public.”

Carroll, who played for Liverpool and West Ham and is now a player and co-owner of National League South side Dagenham, described the assault in his autobiography ‘Owning It’.

He said the incident happened while he was asleep.

He subsequently threw the man out of his home before knocking him unconscious when he tried to get back inside.

Carroll described giving evidence in court as “humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous”.

“It was eating me alive inside for so long,” Carroll said. “There’s certain things you can’t get over, and I’ll never, ever get over that.

“But now I know that people can see who I was then, in that time, and what I’ve been through and they help me and support me.”

Adams has not commented publicly since Carroll named him as the man who attacked him.

Details of help and support with sexual abuse or violence is available. BBC Action Line.

Former All-Ireland winner John McEntee has been appointed Monaghan manager, replacing Gabriel Bannigan.

McEntee, who helped Armagh win the Sam Maguire in 2002, takes his first inter-county job after spending the past four seasons in charge of Monaghan club Inniskeen.

The 49-year-old’s appointment was ratified at a county board meeting on Monday night.

He replaces Bannigan, who said “the goalposts have moved” when announcing his departure after two years at the helm in August.

After succeeding former Armagh team-mate Oisin McConville, McEntee led Inniskeen to Monaghan finals in 2023 and 2025, losing both to Scotstown.

He also oversaw Clontibret’s 2019 Monaghan SFC triumph while he guided his club Crossmaglen Rangers to the Ulster title alongside McConville in 2015.

McEntee’s twin brother Tony – with whom he won the All-Ireland title – spent the 2026 season in the Down backroom team following a spell as Sligo boss.

Under Bannigan, Monaghan won the Division Two title in 2025 and reached successive All-Ireland quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Donegal and Louth.

The Farney men were relegated from Division One this year after a tough league campaign in which they failed to pick up a point.

They bounced back well in the Ulster SFC with wins over Cavan and Derry but suffered an extra-time defeat against Armagh in the decider.

In the Sam Maguire series, Monaghan lost to eventual champions Mayo in round one but secured round 2B and three victories over Roscommon and Westmeath.

However, after losing influential goalkeeper Rory Beggan to injury, they fell to 0-27 to 2-18 loss to Louth in the quarter-final at Croke Park.

If there was any doubt as to whether Mike Evans could still dominate at the highest level in the NFL, he has quickly shut down such narratives in his first month with the San Francisco 49ers.

The veteran wide receiver starred on Sunday as he made seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in his side’s 32-29 win over the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Evans signed a three-year $42.4m deal with the 49ers this offseason following 12 years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he recorded 11 straight 1,000-yard campaigns.

“Kyle Shanahan hasn’t had that since he was offensive coordinator in Atlanta with Julio Jones,” said Sky Sports NFL’s Neil Reynolds.

“Hostile environment. 50-50 balls, going up and making amazing catches. Also, just as we were talking about Mike Evans making amazing catch after amazing catch, I dropped my pen, so not all of us can make amazing catches.”

The win lifted Kyle Shanahan’s side to a perfect 5-0 on the year at the top of the NFC West, while also marking Evans’ first 100-yard game for the 49ers.

“I don’t know if Kyle Shanahan gets enough credit,” said Sky Sports’ Jeff Reinebold. “Everybody talks about all the superstars he’s got. We talk about great coaches always go to players, not plays.

“I want to spread the joy in if you’re a Niner fan. What did you bring Mike Evans to San Francisco for? Performances like that.

“They have not had that kind of guy in that offense. That big, physical, contested catch, red zone target guy that you can’t win it, whether it’s a first down or a touchdown in the red zone, you know he’s gonna be the guy if you just give him a chance.

“And I thought Brock Purdy gave him a chance and that’s what you get.”

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