Four people were arrested

Per the report, a man in his 20s "was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after being shot in the leg at around 10.20pm on Friday, November 28," at an address in the town of Huyton in Merseyside.

Following the alleged attack, four people were arrested, all of whom have been named by police.

One of those named by police was Patrick Sean Lacey, a former Accrington Stanley midfielder and boxer, and the brother of Man United's Shea Lacey.

Lacey was reportedly charged with "attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life; section 18 GBH; and conspiracy to cause GBH."

The other men who were charged are; Bernard Flynn, John Aaron Jones, and John George Patrick Hughes.

A statement has been issued by Chris Clark from the force's Firearms Investigation Team.

He said: "These coordinated warrants were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation, and all four men will appear in court today.

"Our work continues, so I would ask that people who have yet to come forward still do so. Please do not assume that we already hold information.

"Our team will make that assessment, and will take the appropriate action. Whether you have a first-hand account, dashcam, CCTV, doorbell or other footage, come forward."

32-year-old Lacey began his football career in the Manchester United academy before later playing for Accrington Stanley, as well as non-league clubs Southport, Chester and Altrincham.

He has also competed as a professional middleweight boxer, fighting as recently as this month, in a defeat to Jack Swallow at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.