Despite initially fearing he would be out for a month, Antonio Valencia will likely be available for our trip to Tottenham next weekend.

“The availability of Ashley Young and Nani as natural wide players considerably strengthens our attacking options,” Ferguson wrote in the programme for Ajax. “And I am sure our strikers are pleased to see them. They will be sorry to see Antonio Valencia injured again because he too provides great service from out on his wing, but it’s not a particularly serious injury and he should be back in a week or so.”