SAINTS legend Francis Benali smiles for a selfie with Piers Morgan as he drums up support for his epic fundraising mission.

The 45-year-old bumped into the former chat show host and tabloid newspaper editor at the Ageas Bowl, in West End, as the pair watched England play the third test against India today.

Benali obviously impressed Piers with news of his upcoming charity challenge, which will see him try to raise £1m for Cancer Research UK by running between all 20 top-flight football grounds.

Piers soon after posted a selfie of the pair, adding, “a lunatic on the pitch - and off it! The amazing @FrannyBenali is running 1,000 miles in 21 days for charity”.

He also tweeted the details of Benali's never-done-before mission to his four million followers on Twitter, which will no doubt give the former defender a fundraising boost.

As previously reported, Benali will set off from Newcastle's St James' Stadium on August 24, meeting up and running with friends and former pros, including Matt Le Tiss along the way.

To sponsor Benali text BIGR55 £3 rto 70070 or donate at benalisbigrun.com.