Ruud out for a month

Manchester United’s preparations for the new season took a knock tonight with the news Ruud van Nistelrooy will miss the next month because of a sportsman’s hernia.

The Dutch striker, the club’s top scorer last season, will go under the knife next week in a bid to cure the problem.

He played for his country at Euro 2004, scoring four goals.

The news comes on the evening United's Vodafone Cup tie with Urawa Red Diamonds was called off because of the threat of thunder and lightning at Old Trafford.

With only Sunday’s Community Shield encounter with Arsenal to come before the Red Devils head to Romania for their Champions League qualifying match against Dinamo Bucharest, there are fitness concerns for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Darren Fletcher – who was due to start tonight’s game – has not made a single appearance, while newly-retired England international Paul Scholes, who was United’s skipper tonight, has only played an hour against AC Milan as United prepare for the new season.

Ferguson will now have to give careful thought to the side he picks at the Millennium Stadium.