Van Nistelrooy demands United recall

Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrates after scoring against Newcastle United in April 2005. Van Nistelrooy has demanded a recall to the Manchester United starting line-up but attempted to play down reports of a bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has demanded a recall to the Manchester United starting line-up but attempted to play down reports of a bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Dutch striker looked miserable after being left out of United's 4-0 League Cup final win over Wigan on Sunday and reports have claimed his relationship with Ferguson is at breaking point.

Van Nistelrooy however has insisted that he accepted the rationale behind the manager's decision to pick Louis Saha for the final given the French striker's five goals earlier in the competition.

"The manager told me before the game that I wasn't playing," said van Nistelrooy, who is on international duty with The Netherlands this week.

"I was very disappointed but I could understand why he wanted to play Louis because he has been playing very well in the competition this season.

"You have to accept the decision as a professional player. There is no problem between me and the manager. I cheered the first two goals with everyone else on the bench and I was happy for the team."

Van Nistelrooy went on however to issue a thinly-veiled warning to Ferguson about his likely reaction if he should find himself on the bench again on Monday, when United face Wigan again, this time in the Premiership.

"I've scored a lot of goals this season and feel I've been playing well and I hope to be back in the team to play Wigan on Monday," he said. "I expect to play the league matches."

Van Nistelrooy has scored 147 goals in 208 games for United and has, in the past, expressed his gratitude for the way Ferguson kept faith with him after he suffered a serious knee injury just as his move to England was being finalised.

Ferguson had defended his decision to start Saha, saying van Nistelrooy's under-study had earned his chance and would have been equally disappointed to have been left out.

If van Nistelrooy and Ferguson have reached the end of the road, there will be plenty of clubs willing to splash out on acquiring a forward regarded as the best pure finisher in the game.

AC Milan could lead the way, particularly if, as is is rumoured, current Dutch boss Marco van Basten returns to his former club as head coach after the World Cup.