Van Nistelrooy preparing for United exile

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s row with Alex Ferguson has cost him an appearance in his old mate Roy Keane’s testimonial at Old Trafford tomorrow.

As one of the few United first-team stars to speak up for Keane following the Irishman’s well-publicised, but never publicly heard, MUTV lambasting of the Red Devils lamentable performance in their 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in October, Van Nistelrooy was looking forward to the chance of meeting up with his old captain again.