OLE'S FUTURE IN DOUBT

Last updated : 22 July 2004 By editor

Ole told the Sun that he is determined to fight for a starting place this season, but there is speculation that his latest injury could spell and end to those hopes:

“I am going to have to try harder than ever to get into the team. But that is how it is at United, you have to keep improving year on year. The standards keep being raised and you have to go with them.”

A club spokesperson confirmed that he will see a specialist about his knee:

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not be travelling with Manchester United on the pre-season tour to the United States. This is due to Ole still experiencing some discomfort in his right knee.

"He will be consulting a specialist about the problem."

The Telegraph believe that his future at the club is now in doubt:

The first major casualty in Manchester United's pre season tour of America was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was left at home yesterday to fret over his future after a recurrence of a knee injury that ruled him out for more than seven months last season. He would be forgiven for worrying, because in the next year the club will have to cull a squad that has quietly grown vast and is supported by a wage bill that the Old Trafford board want reduced.

‘At 30, with an injury that has proven unwilling to heal, Solskjaer is a prime candidate for removal from Sir Alex Ferguson's squad while Nicky Butt, Diego Forlan and Kleberson are the higher earners who look vulnerable from a group of around 40 players who have first-team ambitions.’

The Times also feels that Ole may not be at the club much longer:

‘Manchester United embarked on their pre-season tour of the United States yesterday with fresh concerns over the long-term future of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has suffered a recurrence of a career-threatening knee injury. The 31-year-old Norway forward was an unexpected absentee from the 18-man squad that flew to Philadelphia yesterday morning, having been told that he must undergo a scan to assess the extent of the latest problem with his right knee, on which he had surgery last autumn.

‘Solskjaer has another two years to run on his contract at Old Trafford, but his future has been uncertain as he has struggled to regain full fitness.

‘Over the past six months Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has spent almost £20 million to increase his attacking options with the signings of Louis Saha and Alan Smith. It is no secret that he has identified Wayne Rooney, the Everton forward, as his next big signing, which would leave little or no room for Solskjaer.’