Ruud row overshadows Keane return

Roy Keane’s emotional return to Manchester United is set to be completely overshadowed by the absence of an old friend.

When Keane launched his infamous MUTV tirade at his team-mates in the wake of their humiliating defeat at Middlesbrough in October, Ruud van Nistelrooy was one of the few senior players to stand behind the Irishman.

Little could the Dutchman have imagined that less than seven months later, both men would be heading through the Old Trafford exit door.

It now transpires that Van Nistelrooy did not storm out of United’s team hotel on Sunday, he was booted out by Alex Ferguson, presumably in response to the 29-year-old’s reaction that he was being overlooked for the Premiership win over Charlton in favour of 19-year-old Giuseppe Rossi.

Whatever the actual rights and wrongs of the argument, Ferguson lashed out with enough force to ensure that, rather than being part of the United squad for tonight’s clash with Celtic as he expected, Van Nistelrooy will be back at home in Holland hoping for a World Cup call from his national team coach Marco van Basten, who is due to name his squad on May 15.