Best 'poorly, but improving'

George Best pictured with his wife, Alex.

The manager of former Northern Ireland soccer star George Best has said he is "poorly, but doing well" after being admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia.

Best, 54, who has a home near the County Down fishing village of Portavogie, was admitted to hospital in Belfast last Friday night.

Phil Hughes said: "He's doing OK. He's got pneumonia, so he is poorly.

"He was seriously ill last year and it would be remiss of anyone to ignore the fact that he has pneumonia. George is still quite delicate, so of course everyone is worried.

"But it's certainly not life threatening.

"The professors are happy with him and he is responding to treatment and sleeping well. He was in fine spirits and doing well. He's looking forward to getting home."

'Improving'

On Monday Professor Roger Williams who has been treating Best for a liver condition since last year said Best was "improving."

"I'm in touch with the doctors in Belfast and he's under a very good specialist there," said the London-based doctor.

"He got pneumonia after suffering from a respiratory infection.

"It's always worrying when someone gets an infection but on the underlying (liver) problem I understand he's been feeling better and things are looking improved."

The professor of liver disease at University College Hospital, London, said he had regular meetings with the former football player to discuss his condition.

When asked if Best had been staying away from alcohol, he replied "yes".

He added: "I last saw him about three weeks ago, his spirits were good, he's a good patient."

Previous scare

Last March, the former Manchester United star was admitted to hospital in west London with liver problems and warned to stay off alcohol for good.

Best then promised to give up drinking after the health scare.

Now a Sky Sports analyst, Best is known as much for his antics off the football field as for his genius on it.

His playboy lifestyle and heavy drinking cut short his playing days and he continued to hit the headlines after retiring from the game.

In 1984 he said he had reached the lowest point of his career when he was jailed for two months for drink driving and assaulting a police officer.