The Times:
A worls away from the Nou Camp, the scene of his finest moment for Manchester United, in the 1999 Champions League final, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the latest steps on the comeback trail in a reserve-team match against Middlesbrough in Billingham last night, but the 33-year-old forward lasted only seven minutes before leaving the pitch with a suspected fractured cheekbone.
Solskjaer recently returned to first-team action after 19 months out with a career-threatening knee injury, but his hopes of regaining full fitness suffered another blow last night when he clashed with Ugo Ehiogu, the Middlesbrough defender. Clearly groggy, the Norway forward trudged off and was soon transferred to a local hospital for examination.
Nor was he the only United player to suffer. Quinton Fortune, who was playing in only the second match of his comeback, seemed to damage once again the knee that he injured in pre-season training in July. Patrice Evra and Gerard Pique also picked up knocks during the 1-1 draw, but it is Solskjaer and Fortune, both hoping to win extensions to contracts that expire at the end of the season, who had most cause for concern.
That should put Ruud van Nistelrooy’s recent problems into context, but the United forward was "a bit peed off" about being left on the bench by Sir Alex Ferguson again away to Wigan Athletic on Monday evening. Not his words, sadly — we have Arjan de Zeeuw, his fellow Dutchman from Wigan, to thank for that insight — but it remains to be seen whether the United forward, in inspiring his team’s dramatic late comeback in the Barclays Premiership match at the JJB Stadium, did enough to prove his point to a manager keen to make one of his own.
The Telegraph:
The Norwegian striker was continuing his comeback after almost two years on the sidelines with knee problems but lasted only seven minutes at Billingham before he was accidentally caught by Ugo Ehiogu as the Boro defender attempted to head clear.
Solskjaer, clearly groggy, had to be helped off the pitch and was quickly transferred to a local hospital for the injury to be assessed, sparking concerns he may have fractured a cheekbone.
It was not the only injury concern to come out of the game either as Quinton Fortune suffered a twisted knee before half-time in only the second match of his own return from knee problems that have kept him on the sidelines for the entire season.
United staff indicated the extent of the fresh injury was not too serious, although it is likely to put the South African's first-team return on hold.
In addition, Gerard Pique was forced off with a dead leg and Patrice Evra limped away from a heavy Ehiogu challenge late on, although the Frenchman was at least able to complete the game.
For the record, the match finished 1-1 with Frazier Campbell getting an equaliser for United.