Van Nistelrooy set to face PSV
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Your support makes all the difference.The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is confident Ruud van Nistelrooy will be fit to play in the club's Champions' League qualifier on 11 August.
Van Nistelrooy only returned to training last week and has nine days before United embark on a trip to either Dinamo Bucharest or MSK Zilina of Slovakia. The 28-year-old has yet to play in a pre-season game but could be in United's Vodafone Cup tie against his former club PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford tonight. He could also face the Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in the same event on Thursday.
After that, Ferguson will assess van Nistelrooy's chances of tackling Arsenal in the Community Shield at the weekend.
"I have a good feeling he will be ready for the Champions' League," Ferguson said. "The good thing is we already know his fitness is at a decent level and while the United States tour was too early, he should be right for these two matches."
Alan Smith will probably be rested as Louis Sahahas his first outing of the summer. Darren Fletcher is earmarked for Thursday, but Liam Miller and Quinton Fortune are still short of fitness, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in Norway awaiting a further knee examination.
The remainder of United's established players will be on show, which is good news for the tournament organisers, who announced that fans will be able to pay at the turnstiles.
West Ham have completed the signing of the United midfielder Luke Chadwick. The 23-year-old made 39 appearances for the club but failed to established himself. He spent all last season on loan with Burnley, scoring five goals, and has also had spells with Royal Antwerp and Reading - where his three-month stint during the 2002-03 season brought him under the guidance of the current Hammers manager Alan Pardew.
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