United shattered as Ruud ruled out

Manchester United's FA Cup hopes suffered a shattering blow when 26-goal striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was ruled out of today's semi-final with Arsenal at Villa Park.

Most pundits assumed Alex Ferguson was purely engaged in mind games when he suggested yesterday that the prolific Dutchman was extremely doubtful for the last-four clash with a knee injury.

However, the worst fears of all United fans were realised when van Nistelrooy was not even named among the substitutes for today and Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was selected up front in his place.

It was one of two changes to the United side which drew 1-1 at Highbury last weekend as Portuguese teenager Cristiano Ronaldo replaced Eric Djemba-Djemba, a move that was likely to see Ryan Giggs pushed up front and Paul Scholes operating alongside skipper Roy Keane in midfield.

Arsene Wenger also dropped a striking bombshell by leaving Thierry Henry on the bench, opting to partner Dennis Bergkamp and young Frenchman Jeremie Aliadiere.

For Arsenal this game was another significant test on the road to their treble dream, while for United it represented their last chance of silverware and a chance to extend an extraordinary FA Cup semi-final record which has seen them claim 10 successive victories since they were defeated by Leeds back in 1970.