Stam fit and ready for the night of nights

Manchester United's Dutch defender Jaap Stam has declared himself fit to play in the Champions League final on Wednesday night.

The £10.5 million signing from PSV Eindhoven last season is an almost certain starter for United as they take on Bayern Munich in the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. He is a key figure in recent United success - they won the domestic double on Saturday - but has had problems with an achilles heel strain for the past month and has missed several games. He played the last part of the FA Cup final win over newcastle at the weekend and has reported no severe reaction to the effort of returning to action securing his place in United's first European Cup final since 1968.

Stam is a candidate for a summer operation on his ankle damage and is unlikely to travel on Holland's trip to Brazil next month for two friendlies.