Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy is raring to go after declaring himself fit following a four-week lay-off with a hamstring injury.
The Holland international will step back into the side against Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon after spending almost a month on the sidelines.
Van Nistelrooy, who missed the clashes with Fulham, Olympiakos, Aston Villa and Maccabi Haifa, said: "I have trained all week, it's fine and I'm ready for Saturday's game.
"In a way it has been frustrating being out but that is the way it is. It is a sign from your body which is telling you to take few steps back and you have to accept it.
"I took a chance to train hard to do some extra work and try to take advantage of the injury period."
Van Nistelrooy's spell out of the side is the longest of his Old Trafford career since joining United from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2001. Even though he had fought his way back from cruciate ligament surgery, van Nistelrooy played virtually the entire 2001-02 season without a break.
"Last year was unbelievable in that way," he told MUTV. "I didn't have any injury problems and this year for the first time since I joined the club, I have been out for three weeks but in the end it's not really that long.
"It's a bit frustrating watching from the sidelines. When you sit there in front of the TV or in the stadium then you know you can't do anything about it and that is the most annoying thing."
The Holland international will step back into the side against Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon after spending almost a month on the sidelines.
Van Nistelrooy, who missed the clashes with Fulham, Olympiakos, Aston Villa and Maccabi Haifa, said: "I have trained all week, it's fine and I'm ready for Saturday's game.
"In a way it has been frustrating being out but that is the way it is. It is a sign from your body which is telling you to take few steps back and you have to accept it.
"I took a chance to train hard to do some extra work and try to take advantage of the injury period."
Van Nistelrooy's spell out of the side is the longest of his Old Trafford career since joining United from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2001. Even though he had fought his way back from cruciate ligament surgery, van Nistelrooy played virtually the entire 2001-02 season without a break.
"Last year was unbelievable in that way," he told MUTV. "I didn't have any injury problems and this year for the first time since I joined the club, I have been out for three weeks but in the end it's not really that long.
"It's a bit frustrating watching from the sidelines. When you sit there in front of the TV or in the stadium then you know you can't do anything about it and that is the most annoying thing."
