Solskjaer career nears end as United offer testimonial

Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer passes the ball during an exhibition match against Juventus in July 2003. Fears are mounting that Solskjaer will not play for Manchester United again after manager Alex Ferguson revealed plans for a testimonial for the Norwegian striker.

Fears are mounting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not play for Manchester United again after manager Alex Ferguson revealed plans for a testimonial for the Norwegian striker.

Solskjaer, who has been battling to recover from a serious knee injury for over two years, had been hopeful of a return to action by Christmas.

But Ferguson told reporters ahead of Wednesday's League Cup clash with West Brom that the club could not even put a timetable on Solskjaer's return to full training.

"We are all hoping that he can make it back and we keep praying," Ferguson said.

"The first thing I ask the physiotherapist is 'How's Ole?' and it is always 'just the same, just the same.'" I couldn't put a time on it now but it is a worry."

Solskjaer will be 33 in February and his contract expires at the end of the season, which is when a testimonial match is likely to be held.

"I am almost certain he has a testimonial written into his contract anyway and I know the fans would want to show their appreciation," Ferguson said.

Solskjaer suffered damage to the cruciate ligament of his right knee in September 2003, shortly after scoring his 115th goal for United in a Champions League tie against Panathinaikos.

He made a brief return at the end of that season and appeared in United's FA Cup win over Millwall before suffering a relapse from which he is still struggling to come back.

Solskjaer is a hugely popular figure at Old Trafford, not least because it was his injury-time goal which won the European Cup for the Red Devils in 1999.

He said earlier this month that he hoped to be back in the first team for Christmas but recognised the doubts over his future.

"It'll mean everything to me to wear that red shirt again," he said at the time. "That's all that matters to me. And I have seen myself playing again on many nights ... but then I wake up."