By Chris O'Brien
August 10 2004

Diego Forlan may well have had his Manchester United career saved by an injury crisis at Old Trafford. Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud Van Nistelrooy are all on the sidelines so Sir Alex Ferguson may have to call upon his out-of-favour Uruguayan for goals.

Injuries to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud Van Nistelrooy have seemingly saved the Manchester United career of out-of-favour forward Diego Forlan.

 

The Uruguayan looked certain to leave Old Trafford over the summer after failing to make much of an impact last season, with Atletico Madrid and Levante believed to be expressing great interest in the striker. However, Forlan will stay a red as United’s forward ranks are tested to the limit.

 

Solskjaer could be out of action until Christmas, whilst Van Nistelrooy faces a month on the sidelines following hernia surgery. This leaves United with Louis Saha and Forlan as the only fully fit out-and-out forwards, with versatile duo Alan Smith and David Bellion also available as strikers.

 

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that he cannot afford to let the South American go, despite press reports in Spain claiming a deal had already been done with a La Liga club.

 

The United boss said: "Solskjaer is also a miss which is why I am not inclined to let Diego go. There has been a lot of toing and froing in the last couple of weeks regarding clubs in Spain trying to get him in on the cheap but nothing has really excited us to let him move, so since what has happened to Solskjaer and now van Nistelrooy it means he won't be going out now."

 

Forlan is likely to find himself in the majority of United’s match-day line-ups whilst Van Nistelrooy and Solskjaer nurse injuries, whether it is on the pitch of warming the substitute’s bench. It is up to him to take this lifeline to prove his worth to Ferguson.

 

The 25-year-old arrived in Lancashire in January 2002, with hopes high after the club shelled out nearly £8million to acquire his services. However, he has scored only 17 goals in 96 appearances for the club, and bar a brace at Anfield has not churned up many memorable displays. It would seem he now has one last chance to make something of his time at United.