Sports Direct is certain of hitting its full year £270m EBITDA target as group sales soared 21.1% to £589.5m in its last quarter.

Gross profit jumped 22.7% to £244.8m over the 13 weeks to January 27. Its core sports retail business drove the performance, with sales increasing 21.2% to £495.8m while gross profit in the division rocketed 23.5% to £203.7m.

Revenue from its premium lifestyle division, which includes USC and Cruise, which it acquired in 2011, increased 42.4% to £46.7m, with gross profit leaping 35.1% to £20.4m.

Its brands division sales edged up 4.4% to £47m and its gross profits rose 6.7% to £20.7m.

Sports Direct chief executive Dave Forsey said: “The group’s strong performance continued during the third quarter, primarily driven by our sports division, including online following the successful integration of our new operating platform.”