Sunday Express - Sun 23 Dec 2001 - Page 124

SPORT FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP Van hits a hat-trick as United put Saints to sword R ampant Ruud

The unerring accuracy of the finish was further proof of why United were prepared to wait patiently for Van Nistelrooy to complete his rehabilitation from a career-threatening knee injury. Saints scored in the 65th minute when they capitalised on a poor clearance from Fabien Barthez, with Marian Pahars on target, before normal service was resumed, Beckham and Giggs setting up Keane for the fifth. MAN UTD (4-4-2): Barthez 7; P Neville 7, G Neville 7, Blanc 6, Silvestre 6; Veron 7 (Beckham 65, 6) , Keane 8 (Wallwork 82, 6) , Butt 7, Scholes 8; Solskjaer 7 (Giggs 65, 6), Van Nistelrooy 8.

Keane's facing surgery Curbs is not complaining "

ROY KEANE will discover in the next 24 hours whether he has aggravated a niggling knee injury which could eventually need surgery, writes John Richardson. Manchester United's skipper came off eight minutes from the end. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, though delighted with the sixgoal spree, feels his title rivals have never had a better opportunity to end United's title dominance.

Charlton are

into the match on a run of four games unbeaten, were turned over by a Rovers side without a win in five before yesterday.

QUOTES

He said: "I would have been delighted with a point because that's all we deserved.