A RUUD AWAKENING FOR UNITED STRIKERS
The PSV Eindhoven hitman will not join up with his new colleagues until the beginning of July, but the champions' current crop of strikers will already be anxious of his arrival. With the squad rotation system in full effect at Old Trafford this season, Opta ran the rule over the four forwards who are in danger of sitting it out next term.
Despite being 35 years of age, Teddy Sheringham has played more top-flight football during the campaign than any of his three colleagues, and his vast experience has paid dividends.
The former Tottenham marksman has been rejuvenated this season and is the Red Devils' top scorer with 15 league goals, five more than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and six more than Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. His continued success at the highest level was rewarded with the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award and a recent 12-month extension to his current contract means that he will still be in the frame next year.
Sheringham's 31% goals-to-shots ratio is unrivalled among the four contenders, with Cole the nearest challenger, trailing by seven percentage points. However, Sir Alex Ferguson might plump for a younger partner alongside his Dutch acquisition.
The United supremo hailed Solskjaer as the 'the greatest substitute ever' after he clambered off the bench to fire the winner against Charlton a fortnight ago. The impish Norwegian has underlined his predatory instincts by rifling in 41 shots on target- more than any other United player - and his 60% shooting accuracy is the best rate at the club.
Like Sheringham, the 'super sub' has contributed four goal assists this year, but whether Solskjaer's patience will hold out for another 'bit part' in the Old Trafford opera remains to be seen, although he is surely worthy of a more regular chance to impress.
With the imminent arrival of an international class forward, Yorke may be the man most in danger of facing the axe. The former Aston Villa player has tested the keeper with almost twice as many shots than Cole, but his reportedly 'fragile' relationship with Ferguson may affect his opportunities. In addition, Cole has bagged four goals in the Champions League proving that he is still a vital component to the squad.
Nevertheless, room will have to be made to accommodate van Nistelrooy, who at 24-years-old will be the youngest of the 'big five'. His record speaks for itself after he ended the 1998/99 season with 31 goals, making him the top scorer in Holland and second in the European Golden Boot rankings. By the time van Nistelrooy suffered the now notorious knee injury in March last year, he had already notched 29 goals and he will be keen to continue that kind of form across the North Sea.
Whoever Ferguson opts for as his first choice strike partnership in 2001-02, opposition defences already know they are in for a torrid time, as the United forward line takes formidable shape before a ball has even been kicked.
United's latest recruit has been installed at 5/1 to end next season as the Premiership's top goalscorer with online bookmakers Surreysports.
