Butt jets out with United

Nicky Butt was included in an 18-man Manchester United squad that flew out today to begin their three-match, 10-day American tour.

The 29-year-old midfielder was thought to be on the brink of a move to Newcastle, with some suggestions he might even report to Tyneside for a medical today.

Instead, the England midfielder will continue what looks to be a vain battle to win back a regular first-team berth, starting in the opening game of the tour against Bayern Munich in Chicago on Sunday.

However, Alex Ferguson was forced to head across the Atlantic without Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 30-year-old has suffered a worrying recurrence of a knee problem that required an operation last September and kept him out for most of season.

Solskjaer will have a scan on the problem over the next few days and, having only just brought his striking options back up to strength following the acquisitions of Louis Saha and Alan Smith, Ferguson will be desperately hoping for some good news about the man who famously won United the European Cup in 1999.

With Gary and Phil Neville, Saha, Mikael Silvestre, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo all ruled out of the early stages of the trip because of their exertions at this summer’s European Championships, it is a mixed blend of youth and experience that will represent United in the opening stage of their packed pre-season programme.

As well as established stars such as Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, members of the talented youth team squad – Chris Eagles, David Jones and Paul McShane, plus impressive American defender Jonathan Spector were all part of the squad.

Luke Chadwick and Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo, whose long-term Red Devils’ future are also in doubt, were part of Ferguson’s squad too.

However, it was the presence of a non-playing member of the United squad that attracted most attention in Terminal Two, as Rio Ferdinand, not due to return from his eight-month ban until September 20, was surrounded by a swarm of autograph hunters.