Heinze hungry for action as Argentina play waiting game with Messi

ALEX FERGUSON’S motives over Wayne Rooney’s World Cup participation may have been questioned but Gabriel Heinze has no doubt he will owe the Manchester United manager a big debt when he runs out at the AOL Arena in Hamburg tonight.

Heinze thought his appearance in Germany this summer had been wrecked by the ruptured cruciate ligament he suffered on Champions League duty for the Red Devils in Villarreal last September.

But a patient recovery in Spain has seen Heinze recover and though he managed only a couple of reserve-team outings for United before linking up with the Argentinian squad, he has done enough in a couple of friendlies to ensure his presence in the Group C opener against the Ivory Coast.