Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck either side of Juan Sebastian Veron’s brilliant lob to give the Red Devils their handsome win but Sir Alex Ferguson still left the Amsterdam ArenA with a few concerns.

Paul Scholes faces a scan on his knee in Manchester tomorrow while, just 10 days before the first leg of their Champions League qualifier, neither Ruud van Nistelrooy nor Fabien Barthez were deemed fit enough to play.

Fifteen minutes from time, Ferguson took the opportunity to introduce four new faces, including Keane, knowing just two more outings remain, against Danish outfit Aarhus on Tuesday and Boca Juniors at Old Trafford next Saturday, before the competitive action starts in earnest.

Beckham was also withdrawn shortly afterwards, receiving a rapturous reception not just from the English support tucked neatly into one corner of the stadium, but also from the 40,000 plus Ajax fans who had arrived early in advance of their team’s meeting with Barcelona.

Frey tipped over Phil Neville’s long-range drive with seven minutes remaining and also looked to have turned Keane’s first-time effort from Giggs’ square ball round his post, only for the referee to award a goalkick.