Lucky Ronaldo uninjured in car crash

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo escaped unscathed on Thursday from a car crash that left his Ferrari a mangled wreck, and will be fit to play in Sunday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

His luxury sports car collided with a roadside barrier in a tunnel near Manchester airport as he was driving to training on Thursday morning. A photographer who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards described the Portugal winger's car as a "terrible mess" but Greater Manchester Police said no one had been injured.

"Officers attended and discovered a Ferrari had collided with a barrier," a statement said. "No one is believed to have been injured."

The Portugal international played as a second half substitute in United's 1-0 defeat away to Derby County in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Barring any delayed reaction to Friday's crash, he will be back in the starting line-up for Sunday's match at Old Trafford as United seek to overcome one of their major rivals in the battle to retain the Premier League trophy.