VAN DER SAR SCARE FOR UNITED

MANCHESTER UNITED are sweating on the fitness of Edwin van der Sar after he missed training yesterday.

The keeper will make a decision this morning after suffering a sore back following Wednesday's Champions League victory in Moscow.

Van der Sar's return has helped stabilise the defence after Ben Foster dropped a couple of high-profile clangers and Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to have somebody available who he described as the best in the business this week.

"Edwin is a fantastic goalkeeper," said Ferguson.

"It was interesting recently that Ruud Gullit claimed he is the best goalkeeper in the world.

"He got no argument from his fellow panellists, and I think his argument is quite right - just look at Edwin's record over the years, his composure and organisational ability.

"He does make a difference to us."

The Dutch veteran did make a huge mistake in gifting Liverpool an equaliser in last year's fixture on Merseyside when Wes Brown scored an own goal but his presence would be sorely missed in the white-hot atmosphere.

Tomasz Kuszczak has been placed on standby, although Foster would obviously be the other option for the Anfield encounter if the number one is ruled out.

Meanwhile, midfielder Darren Fletcher has been wearing a plastic air boot due to an ankle injury.

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