Van Nistelrooy doubtful for Olympiakos clash

Ruud van Nistelrooy could miss Manchester United's Champions League clash against Olympiakos on Tuesday because of a persistent hamstring problem, manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy is quite doubtful," Ferguson told a news conference. "We took a risk and played him on Saturday (against Charlton), but with hamstrings, if you don't clear it up, it goes on and on and on and we will give a lot of consideration to that tomorrow.

"If we keep playing him with a hamstring it may end up worse. We have kept it in check very well, but it's a problem for us."

In Van Nistelrooy's absence, Paul Scholes would probably play in attack alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Fit-again duo Mikael Silvestre and Juan Sebastian Veron have been added to the squad, while England defender Gary Neville is a confirmed starter.

United's task at Old Trafford looks simple on paper due to Olympiakos's poor away record. They have drawn one and lost seven of their last eight away games in Europe, and lost 3-0 at Old Trafford in the Champions League.

But Ferguson is aware of the number of shocks in Europe this season and has warned his team against underestimating the Greeks.

SHOCK RESULTS

"The surprise was Olympiakos losing to Maccabi Haifa," Ferguson said. "That was a shock. Nobody expected that.

"It may be that Maccabi Haifi came to our ground and it was something new to them and they were nervy and apprenhensive. But with the experience behind them, may be going to Nicosia helped them enjoy themselves.

"I have seen some of the video of the game and I don't think it was a 3-0 score line. But the striker of Maccabi Haifi (Yakubu Ayegbeni) did very well.

"He was a real threat and sometimes that can happen. One player can make a difference and he did that in that game."

"Maybe we are seeing changes in European football. We are getting shocks and surprise results in the last two weeks.

"We played Olympiakos last year and they were close games. I expect a tough game. They have a lot of experience there with Giovanni and Christian Karembeu and we have to respect that. They showed last year they have good quality and we have to concentrate."

Ferguson said victory over the Greeks would almost certainly confirm United's place in the next stage of the competition.

United top group F with a maximum six points while Haifa

and Olympiakos have three. Last year's Champions League finalists, Bayer Leverkusen, are bottom of the group with no points.

Ferguson revealed that he was disappointed with United's early season form in the premier league.

"We could have done better in our form away from home," he said.

"We should have beaten Chelsea, Sunderland and Leeds easily. We should have won those games without question. That's where the bitter pill comes in.

"I'm disappointed. The way the league is shaping up, I don't think it's a league where you can make mistakes."

United are fourth in the English premier league standings, six points behind leaders Arsenal.