Scholes to miss three games

PAUL SCHOLES is out of Manchester United's next three games just as Alex Ferguson is able to name his first-choice strike force again.

Within hours of declaring that Ruud van Nistelrooy ready to return from a knee injury for the home game with Charlton, Ferguson got the news he was fearing with Scholes' punishment for his clash with Middlesbrough's Doriva on February 11.

After requesting a personal hearing, the 29-year-old England international opted to admit the charge and then safeguard his FA Cup final place by spurning the offer of an appeal.

It means Scholes, who has scored an impressive 14 goals this season, will sit out not only Charlton's visit but also that of Liverpool on Saturday, plus the short trip to Blackburn the following week.

Crucially though, he will be available for the crunch clash with Chelsea on May 8 and the Millennium Stadium encounter against Millwall a fortnight later.

TV replays of the incident, unseen by referee Paul Durkin, appeared clear-cut but that did not stop Ferguson, who regarded the incident as trivial, questioning whether Scholes would receive a fair hearing.

His absence could press skipper Roy Keane whose commitment to the United cause has been restated by his advisor Michael Kennedy - into a return from hamstring trouble.

Van Nistelrooy, however, is a definite starter after four matches out with a knee injury picked up in the 1-1 draw at Highbury last month.

First it was Louis Saha's Achilles, then Van Nistelrooy's knee but, two months after they last appeared in the same starting XI, Ferguson is delighted to reunite them once more.

"They showed very promising signs initially, then Louis got his Achilles injury before Ruud injured his knee," said the manager.

"Because of that they haven't played together for five or six weeks, so it is good to have them both back at the same time.

"I thought there was an element of desperation about our attacking play on Saturday, but with those two together you always feel you will get a goal."

However, Ferguson refuses to concede that domestic standards in England are slipping.

Critics have argued that the vast points gap separating the top three from the rest of division is proof that, other than Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, there is a clear lack of class in England just now.

Despite their defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday, Ferguson's side are 18 points in front of fourth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand, exactly the same number that the Anfield club are clear of the relegation zone.

"I think that assessment is very unfair," he said. The Premiership is still very competitive. You have to play in every game because every team has a go at you.

"They are all committed, physically and professionally and as far as I am concerned, it is still one of the best leagues in the world."