Van Nistelrooy on song English FA Premiership

Perhaps it is a good job for Manchester United that the mentality at Old Trafford has always been more about team awards than individual honours.

Even if the 43 goals Ruud van Nistelrooy has greedily accumulated have failed to win him player of the year, few could dispute his executioner's nerve in front of goal has been the most potent factor in why Alex Ferguson's players have championship medals, after Arsenal were defeated by Leeds United at Highbury yesterday, and will make Thierry Henry's consolation prize feel like iron pyrites.

Over two seasons van Nistelrooy has scored past every one of the 22 Premiership clubs he has faced bar Leeds United and, however enchanting Henry's form for Arsenal, the Dutchman's 13 goals in his last nine games provide a compelling argument that a re-vote to nominate the season's outstanding performer might entice a different outcome.

For van Nistelrooy's fellow professionals not even to deem him worthy of a place in the Professional Footballers Association's Premiership XI is like US golfers voting for their Ryder Cup team and leaving out Tiger Woods.

Van Nistelrooy's admirers in the stands are vociferous in arguing his case but it is typical of the mindset at Old Trafford that the oversight served only to strengthen their resolve.

"I don't pay too much attention to these things," said Ferguson. "But the greatest compliment I can pay Ruud is that he is on his way to becoming one of the best strikers of all time."

Ferguson was equally emphatic on the subject of Roy Keane: "I don't know how people can write off a player with that ability. He had a difficult operation and has gradually being getting through it but today he confirmed that he is back."

Keane himself added: "It's been a long, hard season obviously after the hip operation and coming back from the World Cup. A lot of people not far from here showed a lot of disrespect for me but its nice to be back and I'm feeling stronger all the time."

Van Nistelrooy's third hat-trick in five months, taking his tally to 79 goals in 100 appearances, is an impressive feat. And if he manages another hat-trick in the final game at Goodison Park next week, no player will ever have scored more goals in a season for the club.

"We have worked hard during the season because at the start the defence was functioning well but the attack wasn't so good," van Nistelrooy said afterwards. "We had to go through a process of ensuring both were working properly, which is what we have done. At the moment it seems as though every time we go forward we create a chance, which as a striker is fantastic."

Old Trafford's number-crunchers also revealed that, with Arsenal unable to prolong the argument, this is Ferguson's 27th trophy in just under 29 years of management. Neither has it escaped Ferguson's antennae that United have equalled Liverpool's record of eight titles in 11 seasons, from 1976 to 1986. Liverpool went on to win 10 in 15 and Ferguson, who describes himself as "fresh and young", must have that in his sights.

"We have to look forward all the time at this club," said Ferguson. "The challenge now is to win the European Cup again. We've won it only twice in our history and that's not good enough."

That, however, can wait. For the time being, Ferguson and his players have been vindicated after a season in which they have come under scrutiny more than ever before.

"You have to say our form since the turn of the year has been marvellous," said Ferguson. "We've not lost a league match and the players have really relished the challenge."

They disposed of competent opponents on Saturday as if immune to nerves and even when Claus Jensen punished Roy Carroll's frail clearance within two minutes of David Beckham's deflected opening goal, it did little to puncture the mood of inevitability that swiftly developed into one of euphoria once van Nistelrooy went to work.

Loathing United may be a national pastime but, as much as they will hate to admit it, the people who have become known at Old Trafford as ABUs (Anyone But United) will have to reacquaint themselves with the knowledge that Ferguson's team stand alone in English football. And those of us who were duped into thinking there had been a shift in power from Old Trafford to Highbury will know better than to write off Ferguson again.

MAN UTD: Carroll, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Beckham, Keane, Scholes (Veron 69), Giggs (Butt 77), van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer (Forlan 77). Subs Not Used: Barthez, Phil Neville. Goals: Beckham 11, van Nistelrooy 32, 37, 53.

Charlton: Kiely, Kishishev (Sankofa 73), Young, Fortune, Powell, Lisbie (Johansson 84), Jensen, Parker, Konchesky, Bartlett, Euell (Bart-Williams 78). Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Stuart. Booked: Fortune. Goals: Jensen 13.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).