Full speed ahead for Van Nistelrooy

13 April 2012

Ruud Van Nistelrooy has moved a major step nearer his move to Manchester United - by outsprinting his PSV Eindhoven team-mates as he battles back to full fitness.

The Holland striker, whose £18.5million transfer to United may be resurrected if he recovers completely after ruptured knee ligaments last April, resumed training with his colleagues only last week.

'Ruud has already got his explosive pace back over short distances, 10 and 25metres,' said PSV's Belgian coach Eric Gerets. 'He's recovered well mentally and looks like someone who is having fun again.

'His only problem will be that he has to conquer his fear of sudden unexpected movements that could damage his knee.'

The progress of the 24-year-old will delight United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been kept fully informed of the striker's recovery.

Most of his work involves gym sessions and special muscle-building exercises with his personal trainer, Luc van Agt, but he surprised team-mates by coming second in a series of first-team sprinting tests behind flying Danish winger Dennis Rommedahl.

Van Nistelrooy expects to play again this season. 'The knee's OK,' he said. 'It feels good, so I'll continue with my training schedule which has another four weeks of this phase. When I finish that, I'll be able to say more about when I can play a game.'

Dutch defender Jaap Stam, 28, has told United he wants to end his playing days at the club - in seven years' time.

Stam, whose current contract expires in 2005, has asked United to extend it by three years as well as virtually doubling his earnings to more than £40,000 a week.

Stam's agent, Henk Van Ginkel, expects the deal to be rubberstamped by the Old Trafford board on February 2.

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David Jones (Footballer)

Full speed ahead for Van Nistelrooy

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