Ruud awakening for Charlton

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his first goal from outside the area for Man Utd.

A week ago, few would have believed that Manchester United would be facing Charlton Athletic without their skipper Roy Keane, but fewer would have believed that Ruud van Nistelrooy would score from outside the box.

Manchester United fans have been waiting five seasons to see their Dutch supremo score from long range and on Saturday against Charlton, van Nistelrooy obliged by grabbing United's third goal, five minutes from time, with a low drive after brushing off Luke Young's challenge

As van Nistelrooy enters his fifth season as a Manchester United player, his impressive record shows him scoring 138 goals in 190 appearances.

Few would disagree that he is one of the great goal poachers of recent times, scoring headed, left and right footed goals, all of which have come from inside the inside the area until Saturday.