‘Once Old Trafford gets over the shock of seeing Wayne Rooney spurn a chance from six yards out, once Sir Alex Ferguson has organised some shooting practice for his profligate players, Manchester United fans will get back to the main business in hand: wondering whether Ruud van Nistelrooy will start the next game.
This will he/won't he guessing game has turned into something of an obsession for people reading all sorts of implications into the Dutchman's recent absence. For now, at least, Louis Saha is being preferred as Rooney's striking accomplice.
First it was the Carling Cup final, then last Monday's game at Wigan, followed by yesterday's canter against a disappointing
Then again, maybe it can. Why shouldn't it, if United keep winning games as they have done since Van Nistelrooy's initial demotion? Saha, after all, hasn't done much wrong, scoring in seven of his last eight starts before yesterday's win.
Yet the fact he didn't add to that tally when given the chance will provide further ammunition for advocates of Van Nistelrooy.’