'It was too early,' Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News. 'He was probably a couple of weeks away from a comeback. But when you are playing AC Milan and you think of Ruud's goalscoring record in Europe, we had no option really.'
With talk of Saha and Smith starting against Norwich Ruud remains focused on scoring goals for United:
'It is time to get back on track for my club,' he told MUTV. 'That is what I intend to do. I have been in this situation before. It is important for me to know my strengths, play to them and keep calm.'
'It is great to have the fans behind me,' he added. 'But I feel I want to give them what they have given me. I can pay them back with good performances and goals, that is the way it has always been.'