Happy Ruud back on goal trail

RUUD van Nistelrooy hit the Premiership goal trail for the first time in three months at Old Trafford – then repeated his mantra that he is staying with Manchester United.

The Dutchman seized on Carlo Cudicini’s late blunder to net his 27th goal of a difficult season, scarred by injury, intense speculation about his future and three misses from the penalty spot, and earn United a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

Though the strike was not enough to prevent the Red Devils being dumped into August’s Champions League qualifiers, it did allow the 27-year-old to emphasise his willingness to stay with the club who paid stg£18.5 million to PSV Eindhoven for his services just three years ago.