Manchester United's pursuit of Chelsea and the Premiership title may be bolstered by the return of Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Alex Ferguson hopeful that the Dutch striker may play some part in the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Everton on Saturday.
Van Nistelrooy has been absent with an Achilles tendon injury since scoring his 12th goal of the season in the 3-0 win at West Bromwich in November. He flew back yesterday from the Netherlands, where he had been undertaking light training, and rejoins his team-mates at Carrington this morning. "We'll just have to see how he comes through training," said Ferguson, who welcomed Alan Smith back to training yesterday and should also have Louis Saha available.
The 28-year-old's return would provide a fillip for tomorrow week's Champions League first-leg against Milan at Old Trafford. United had initially hoped van Nistelrooy would be fit for that contest, though his progress has been steady, offering hope of an earlier appearance.
James Beattie has found little sympathy from his Everton team-mates for his dismissal against Chelsea at the weekend, and his absence through suspension for Saturday's tie is also threatening to undermine the team's chances.
The striker was shown the first red card of his career after only eight minutes for butting William Gallas in the back of the head. Everton must now compete without Beattie and Tim Cahill, who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday.
"James is a good lad, a good player and so he has to give 100 per cent," said the Italian full-back Alessandro Pistone. "It really was an important game for us and we needed to keep our focus. You should be focused on that kind of game, but he has to understand it has been a bad mistake."
David Moyes is hoping James McFadden and Leon Osman recover from injury in time for the United match, with the utility player Steve Watson again unlikely to be fit.
Liverpool are confident Harry Kewell will be fit for their Champions League second-round tie against Bayer Leverkusen next week. The Australian has been hampered with groin and Achilles problems and has not featured since the 3-1 win over Newcastle in mid-December, but he played in last night's reserve match against the same opposition at Wrexham.
Meanwhile, managers have been given the green light to send on substitutes with tactical notes to hand to team-mates. During Saturday's clash at Everton Jose Mourinho sent on Jiri Jarosik in the 72nd minute with a note that was handed on to Portugal midfielder Tiago.
Referees chief Keith Hackett revealed Mourinho's tactics did not break any rules of the game and will not face any further action as his actions did not put any players in danger.
