Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is a "serious doubt" according to manager Alex Ferguson for Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal at Villa Park.
Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 26 goals this season, sustained a knee injury in the Premiership champions league clash against leaders Arsenal last Sunday.
The injury then swelled up and although Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat left Van Nistelrooy out of the midweek goalless draw against France, the former PSV Eindhoven forward is still struggling to be fit.
And with French forward Louis Saha suspended and Diego Forlan not expected back from World Cup duty with Uruguay until later Friday, Ferguson is fast running out of options up front.
"Ruud is a serious doubt," said Ferguson on Friday. "All we can do is hope there will be a change over the next 24 hours.
"It would be a bitter blow for us if he was to miss out because he is the man who can win us the game.
"We do have plenty of players who can replace him though Diego Forlan will go straight to the team hotel tonight."
"I have my own philosophy on how I will one day retire and it means I will walk away from football completely.
"Becoming a manager is not an option for me. I will do it exactly like Eric Cantona when he was at United.
"It will be bang, wallop and I'll be gone. I want to do it when I am at the peak of my career. Playing blistering football one moment, the next gone forever.
"I am not a player who is ready to go to other clubs and play at a lower level. I have become used to this fantastic club, so that would be impossible.
"That is not my style. Either I am super-motivated to play at the top or I refuse to play. There is no in-between.
"I am really hungry to be a success at United, but at times it takes everything out of me. The big stars at this club have about seven years at the very top and that's what I am aiming for.
"I am always prepared to give everything I have - in training and in every match. I must play my heart out.
"I live with my fiancee Leontien in an apartment overlooking the hills in Bowden. We both really love it here because we have adapted well to life in Manchester. It is a place where we both feel at home - that says it all."
DAVID Beckham has been snubbed from the wedding of close pal Ruud Van Nistelrooy to avoid a bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Dutch Manchester United ace rang the 28-year-old England skipper to explain that he wants to avoid any bad feeling at his nuptials in July.
Ruud, 27, IS inviting his fiery Scots manager to the bash in the tiny Dutch village of Geffen.
He knows Becks left the Red Devils for Spains Real Madrid after fierce clashes with outspoken Fergie.
And he wants to be certain no awkward moments arise to overshadow his special day.
So he has left Becks and wife Victoria, 29, OFF the wedding guest list.
But the hitman has invited all his Man U team-mates to watch him marry childhood sweetheart Leontien Flaatf in the fairytale ceremony.
He and Becks became close friends while the ace was still at Old Trafford before making his controversial £23million move abroad.
A friend said last night: Its a tough and slightly embarrassing situation for Ruud.
He and Leo are very good friends with the Beckhams but Ruud has explained his decision not to invite them. He wants everything to go smoothly and doesnt want the whole event to turn into a Fergie v Becks affair. It could have potentially become a circus.
He is very much a family man like David and became close to him when they played together.
But Fergie is the boss. He showed huge loyalty to Ruud while he recovered from injury at his Dutch club just as his transfer to Man United was arranged. So the gaffer has to be there.
Ruud has already spent nearly £100,000 ensuring the southern Dutch village is safe for the wedding.
The community will be virtually sealed off for the day.
Reds striker Ruud van Nistelrooy surprised 11-year-old Cornel Hrisca-Munn by presenting him with his invitation to the Pride Of Britain awards in London this week.
Born in Romania with no lower arms and one of his legs severley deformed, doctors took him from his parents soon after his birth and put him in an orphanage, saying he would probably die after a few days.
But, aid workers Doreen and Ken did not want to give up on Cornel and brought him back to Worcestershire where their local BUPA hospital offered free treatment and Cornel's deformed leg was amputated.
In 1994 the couple adopted him - after his parents gave permission.He is still in touch with them and says he loves both sets of parents very much.
Cornel is a Children of Courage winner for his amazing charity work in helping to raise £12,500 for charity - including a 4-mile cycle ride for a friend with leukemia.
Clearly impressed, Ruud gave Cornel his Pride Of Britain invitation, and added: "What a courageous young boy.
It is fantastic what he has achieved and I was delighted to meet with Cornel to present him with his invitation for the Pride of Britain Awards. I hope he has a great evening, he deserves it."
Cornel has been at a mainstream school in Worcestershire since he was three, and is thriving.Despite his disabilities he has chosen not to use prosthetic arms and can write as fast as anyone else can in his class.His mum says his drawings are "amazing". He also plays snooker, basketball, rounders, football and is a keen drummer.
"This year Cornel was touched by the plight of an Iraqi boy called Ali Abbas and wanted to do something to help him and other children in the Iraq War" says Doreen.
"In July, Cornel did a sponsored swim, 100m in 45 minutes without stopping. He raised £4,050 for the Limbless Association Ali Fund."
RUUD DOUBTFUL FOR FA CUP SEMI
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