PRESS BOX VIEW – TELEGRAPH

From The Telegraph:

‘Ruud van Nistelrooy's absence from the Manchester United team is no longer an issue. Even he can't argue with it. Two more goals and a man-of-the-match showing from Louis Saha secured a fourth successive victory since Sir Alex Ferguson's much-debated decision to ground his flying Dutchman at the Carling Cup final.

Ferguson's assistant, Carlos Queiroz, insists Van Nistelrooy is still "part of our family." At the moment, he is the distant cousin that doesn't get invited to family gatherings.

Van Nistelrooy attended a relative's funeral in Holland on Friday, and his mood could not have been lifted by a Saturday afternoon spent watching Saha slipping on his shoes and making himself at home alongside Wayne Rooney.

More fluent and fleeter of foot, Saha's scoring touch is in Ruud health too: 13 goals in 15 starts. Unlucky for someone. "It is unfortunate for Ruud but he just has to be patient," said Ferguson. "He has never complained."

With his autograph at the bottom of a contract that ties him to Old Trafford until 2008, Van Nistelrooy knows the 'situation' is out of his hands. Only if Ferguson needs to sell one of his star turns in order to buy a headline act in midfield might a knock on the manager's door be worth his while.

The World Cup will showcase his talents to potential suitors before then, although Van Nistelrooy turns 30 during the finals. These days, everyone has a price and a sell-by date.'