Manchester United embarked yesterday on a four-match tour of Africa without Owen Hargreaves, who was missing from a 21-man squad.

Hargreaves, who struggled through most of last season with a knee injury, missed Saturday's friendly at Aberdeen and remained behind as his team-mates set off on a tour that will take them to South Africa and Nigeria.

Also missing were Nani, Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra and Cristiano Ronaldo.