Ferguson lauds van Nistelrooy

Alex Ferguson has turned his forward focus on Ruud van Nistelrooy amid talk of a Manchester United inquiry for England hit-man Michael Owen.

The Red Devils boss brusquely side-stepped Real Madrid’s claims that he had approached them about Owen, leaving it to club officials to refute the reports from Spain.

Instead, Ferguson preferred to laud the virtues of Van Nistelrooy, who scored an impressive 110 goals in his first three seasons at Old Trafford, form he is eager to rediscover after last term’s injury-ravaged campaign.

If United maintain their long-held policy of playing two wide men off a single striker, a tactical decision that saw Wayne Rooney shunted to the left and right flanks during his debut season for United, it would appear there is not enough room for Van Nistelrooy and Owen in the same side.

And while Ferguson is known to be an admirer of the England man, he is equally clear in his opinion that Van Nistelrooy has no superior in the goalscoring stakes.

“Ruud is the best finisher I have seen in my time as manager,” said the Scot.

“In that respect, he is absolutely incredible.

“He had a fragmented season last year and his goalscoring ratio was nothing like it has been in previous campaigns. But he is fit and he is looking terrific.

“We expect and we know he will deliver and when he hits that goalscoring form, it will make a massive difference to us.”

Although he managed just 16 goals last term, Van Nistelrooy still finished top of the Champions League scoring charts and will be looking to maintain a record of 36 goals in 39 games in European combat by helping down Hungarian unknowns Debrecen at Old Trafford tomorrow.

With Rooney, Alan Smith and currently injured duo Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already on his books, a move for Owen, who has also been linked with Newcastle and former club Liverpool, seems highly unlikely.

Not that Ferguson was prepared to offer any insight into his thoughts on the matter even when informed Real Madrid had claimed contact had been made from Old Trafford.

“You need to ask Madrid then,” he replied. “I am sitting in Manchester and there is no way I am making any comment whatsoever.”

United communications director Phil Townsend was more forthcoming, rejecting outright the statement of Real spokesman Antonio Garcia Ferreras, who said Newcastle and United had shown an interest.

“We have had no contact with Real Madrid over Michael Owen,” said Townsend.

Given Saha was the man most likely to depart if United did bid for Owen, the fresh knee injury which will sideline the Frenchman for at least the first month of the season would appear to cast even more doubt on Ferguson bringing the England striker back to the Premiership.

Besides, when summing up Saha’s contribution to pre-season, the United boss was full of praise.

“Louis had been doing really well so it is an absolute tragedy for him to get another knee injury.”

Saha is one of five senior squad men missing tomorrow, including Ryan Giggs, who has been struck down by a chest infection, while Gabriel Heinze is set to be on the bench after making just one pre-season appearance after being given extra time off because of his Confederations Cup commitments with Argentina.

Edwin van der Sar seems certain to make his debut in goal, although fellow new arrival Park Ji-sung may have to be content with a place among the substitutes after missing the friendly victories over Urawa Red Diamonds and Royal Antwerp with a head injury.

Two men who definitely will not be involved are Phil Neville and Kleberson, whose Old Trafford exits have been confirmed over the past week.

“It was a major decision for Phil to leave because he has been a fixture here since he was a kid,” observed Ferguson.

“But he is 28 and he could have five or six years at the very top, so it is probably for the best.”

United have lost around £4million on Kleberson, who arrived with high expectations from Atletico Paranaense two years ago but has suffered badly with injuries and failed to make any significant impact during his time at the club.

“Each time he took a step forward he seemed to take two back,” he said.

“That was unfortunate. He is a very good player. I think he will do very well at Besiktas.”