Fergie to play Santa and dish out December rest

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson is planning to rest a number of his squad in December.

Players who appeared in Euro 2004 are likely to stand down at different times for a two-week break to recharge their batteries.

That would see United deprived of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, for a short spell.