Double blow for United

Manchester United lost their leading scorer and £300,000 (E453,890) last night – without even playing a match.

While the decision to refund all 15,000 supporters who bought tickets for the abandoned Vodafone Cup encounter with Urawa Red Diamonds will hurt the Red Devils in the pocket, it is the loss of Ruud van Nistelrooy for a month which will cause by far the greatest pain.