The Guardian says at 36 the Dutchman is into the final year of his Old Trafford contract and he has already confessed that the new season may be his last, both for club and for country, so the former Ajax and Juventus goalkeeper will be hoping that his first-half error which gifted Hideki Uchidate the opener for Urawa is the last in a recent line of mistakes.

Van der Sar was at fault for goals in defeats against Roma and Portsmouth towards the end of last season and his erratic recent performances could open the door to the first team for the Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.