FOOTBALL legend Jack Charlton is recovering after breaking his hip in a fall, his son said tonight.

John Charlton said his father underwent a hip replacement operation at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary this morning and was recovering from the effects of a general anaesthetic.

He said the family had been overwhelmed with messages of support.

Mr Charlton, 76, an OBE, fell down the stairs at his home in Morpeth, Northumberland. His wife Pat was not at home at the time and he was forced to crawl on the floor to ring his son for help.

John Charlton said: “He is still in hospital and had an operation early this morning. He is fine, he’s a bit spaced out due to the general anaesthetic and we are just waiting for him to fully come round.

“The phone has been going non-stop and we’d like to thank everybody for their good wishes.

“He is on the road to recovery and we will have to take it one step at a time with him, so to speak.”

Jack Charlton, who along with his brother Bobby was part of the 1966 World Cup winning England team, made a record 773 appearances for Leeds United and was a mainstay of Don Revie’s all-conquering side in the late 1960s and early 70s.

He went on to manage Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle, before leading the Republic of Ireland to two World Cup Finals in 1990 and 1994.