Ruud leads the great escape

Ruud Van Nistelrooy blazed a record-breaking trail for Manchester United last night as he completed a dramatic FA Cup rescue act at Aston Villa.

The £19million Dutchman became the first player in the club's history to score in seven successive games, helping United fight back from 2-0 down to a 3-2 win and a fourth-round meeting with Wimbledon or Middlesbrough.

Van Nistelrooy broke Villa hearts when he came off the bench to score superb goals in the 80th and 82nd minutes to complete a sensational recovery.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that he had been reluctant to bring the striker into the game in the 56th minute because he was suffering from a groin strain.

Ferguson said: 'When he did come on the whole game changed. The second half was a fantastic cup-tie.' Van Nistelrooy has taken his tally for the season to 21 goals, including 12 in his last eight appearances.

He said: 'My only concern was trying to keep warm on the bench so that I would not make the injury worse.'