Van Nistelrooy on road to recovery

Manchester United target Ruud van Nistelrooy has returned to training and hopes to be back playing before the end of the season.

Van Nistelrooy's record £18.5m move to United from PSV Eindhoven collapsed last April when he failed a medical on his knee and then days later suffered a cruciate ligament injury.

The Dutch international has resumed training on his own and plans to join his PSV team-mates in the next few weeks.

Van Nistelrooy said: "I had to practise on my own, but at least I was there and it was great.

"I feel good. I've not done everything - no contact for example - and the idea is that in the next three to four weeks I'll be able to rejoin the group.

"The last match is at the end of May and it's certainly the plan to be back before then, although I can't say when I will be back."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted by the news of van Nistelrooy's progress.

He has always maintained that he would still like to buy the 24-year-old if he can make a full recovery.

PSV have insisted that United will have to start negotiations from fresh if they want to try again.

President Harry van Raay, who clashed with Ferguson over his idea for van Nistelrooy to spend a month recovering at Old Trafford, said: "The deal is back to square one. If Manchester United want to sign him they will have to begin negotiations all over again."