Soccer: Van der Gouw has knee op

Raimond van der Gouw will miss Manchester United’s Champions League match against Panathinaikos in Athens tomorrow because he is having an operation on a long-standing knee problem.

The Dutch goalkeeper remained in Manchester yesterday when the United squad flew out to Greece and instead 19-year-old Paul Rachubka will act as Fabien Barthez’s understudy in tomorrow’s game.

California-born Rachubka made his senior debut in the Club World Championship in Brazil last season.

He has made just one appearance this season as a substitute in the Worthington Cup.