VAN NISTELROOY INJURY BLOW FOR UNITED

The Dutch international picked up the injury in his country's 1-0 defeat by Ireland at Landsdowne Road and now seems likely to miss Saturday's Premiership tie with Everton and the Champions League kick-off next week.

"He did get a knock on his knee and I felt it best to take the precaution in substituting him rather than encourage any further problems," explained Holland coach Louis van Gaal.

Red Devils fans accross the globe will be peturbed by the injury to a player whose knee collapsed in training while at PSV Eindhoven and was subsequently sidelined for 10 months.

Van Nistelrooy has been in sparkling form since his summer arrival at Old Trafford banking two goals in the Premiership opener with Fulham and netting against England in a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane.

United coach Sir Alex Ferguson will hope that the  24-year-old target-man can make a rapid recovery from his latest setback and lead the front-line of The  Premier League champions.

The temporary absence of van Nistelrooy could give forgotten strikers Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Dwight Yorke to stake a claim for a striking berth.

Yorke pressed home his claims with a hat-trick in the reserves' 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Thursday.