Hernia Puts Van Nistelrooy Out for a Month

Injured
By Chris O'Brien
August 10 2004

In a major blow for Manchester United, Ruud Van Nistelrooy will miss the start of the season with a hernia and could miss over a month of action. The Dutchman looks set to be unavailable for the Community Shield, four Premiership games and the two European Cup qualifiers against Dinamo Bucharest.

Manchester United have been hit with a major blow ahead of the news season with the news that Ruud Van Nistelrooy will miss the start of the new season with a hernia. The Dutchman will have an operation next week and could be out of action for a month.

116 goals in 145 appearances just show how important Van Nistelrooy, who played a leading part in the Netherland's Euro 2004 campaign, is to the Red Devils and he will undoubtedly be sorely missed. Ruud is set to miss Sunday's Community Shield match with Arsenal, the opening four Premiership encounters and the two-legged European Cup qualifier against Dinamo Bucharest, a pair of games for the club.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and summer acquisition Gabriel Heinze at the Olympics, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer facing a long play-off on the sidelines, Liam Miller injured, Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher both suspended and growing concerns over the fitness of several other players, United will face a real tough task to get their Premiership challenge off to a good start with tough games against Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers just two of the opening fixtures these players are likely to miss.

United will hope to welcome back Van Nistelrooy for the Lancastrian derby match against Bolton Wanderers on September 11th, but what is also worrying is we could have to wait up to a month for the forward to get his sharpness back.

The news could open the door to Diego Forlan, who has looked set to leave the club over the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson may want to keep the out-of-favour Uruguayan as United's forward ranks are tested to the limit. Forlan may just have one more chance to prove his worth at Old Trafford.