UNITED have received a double injury boost with Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre making good progress in their bids for fitness.
Skipper Neville is back working with a ball, while French left-back Silvestre should be back this season after undergoing a successful operation on his cruciate knee ligaments.
Neville hasn't played since suffering ankle ligament damage against Bolton at Old Trafford last March.
Since then, the 32-year-old has suffered a succession of other niggling injuries.
But boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been delighted to welcome him back to the training ground this week.
"Gary is training this week with us for the first time. He is into the footballing side of it now which is pleasing news for the lad," said Fergie.
"It has been a long time. I am sure he is delighted to get back but most of all we are very pleased.
"It was one thing on top of another for him. It was an accumulation of small injuries that set him back. Hopefully, he is now on the mend."
Neville might not be ready for a reserve comeback against Bolton on Thursday but might be able to feature in the match at Morecambe against Blackburn next Monday.
Meanwhile, Silvestre could be looking at a spring return having damaged his knee against Everton
"We had him operated on in France last Wednesday morning and it went well," Fergie reported.
"There is no further damage apart from the cruciate so hopefully that is a bonus for us. Sometimes you may have cartilage or other ligament problems as well but it is only the cruciate we have to deal with. I am sure he will be back by March."
How much do United miss this experienced duo? Have your say.
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Denis Law's Backheel, Salford (25/09/2007 at 09:58)
COLIN, CANADA, Canada (25/09/2007 at 10:40)
Kit Kat
Bardsley, Pique, Evans JOS.
Eagles OH, aNDERSON and Nani.
Saha and Brandy.
Jesse Cole (25/09/2007 at 11:31)
Bardsley Brown Pique Evans
Nani Fletcher Anderson Martin
Campbell Rooney
Rooney needs the match fitness and the chance to return to form. All due respect to Coventry City but they're hardly the best team in the world, this could be a very good opportunity for Wayne. Fabien Brandy I think should make an appearance in the second half, give the lad a chance to blend a little with the main side and show what he's made of. Finally, I've been dying for an opportunity to see the development of Pique after his excellent loan spell at Real Zaragoza. He was one of their best players last season.
Any thoughts?
mick the red fireman, middleton (25/09/2007 at 11:39)
birdman, Gibraltar (25/09/2007 at 12:00)
better off red (25/09/2007 at 13:20)
bad news about silvester the twit getting better.
george heslops wig (25/09/2007 at 13:21)
we have a lot of fickle fans ,who ,really are not supporters just hate Utd and only go to say they have been,but they dot watch the match,they spend the second half in the bar,rather than suffer with the rest of us.
wouldnt change it for the world though.
chris, oxford (25/09/2007 at 13:32)
Gerry, Glastonbury (25/09/2007 at 13:41)
I presume Coventry will play their first team so this could be very interesting as they've done pretty well this season overall.
I am not over confident when one considers how we've slipped up in the past with team selections like this but agree with others that they need their opportunities, so let's see how good they are?
Gerry, Glastonbury (25/09/2007 at 13:50)
I still think Nev is far superior at that position but the improvment in Wes is there for all to see over the last couple of games.
Wes is a very good centre back but this experience will have improved his all round game I'm sure.
KingPig, Hyde (25/09/2007 at 13:56)
Patrick McLOUGHLIN, North Carolina, USA (25/09/2007 at 14:08)
a word (if l may) on the reported news that chelsea (possibly) will sign ronaldinho from barcelona for a reported fifty eight million pounds at the end of this season..my my..and that chelsea want to be the best (richest) club in the world..ronaldinho and drobra in the same attack..sounds scary to any football fan..
l think that sooner (than) later there must be some type of parity in world football and some fifa regulations regarding these obscene transfers..otherwise..only the few very rich and powerful clubs in the world will be successful..what the hell does it matter if chelsea spend five hundred million pounds on players and win it all to the dismay of less fortunate (poorer) clubs..chelsea (or) madrid (or) barcelona (or) united are just the select clubs with deep pockets that can (BUY) championships to the detrement of ninty per cent of the other clubs in contention..sure l like to see united buy bigtime world class players like tevez and ronaldo and rooney and hargreaves and ferdinand..but..what is happening to everton/middlesboro/derby/bolton/fulham and all the rest of the (average) clubs struggling to keep in contention with the "big clubs"..yes money can and will dominate world football..but only the rich and powerful clubs will succeed..sadly the most money will buy the moast silverware..hollow victories endeed..surely the time has come for fifa to step in and regulate this(mad) (greedy) money market before "one kills the goose that lays the golden eggs" in this supposed game called world football..enough said
Birdy, Ireland (25/09/2007 at 14:35)
red fred (25/09/2007 at 14:36)
Mick, Dublin (25/09/2007 at 14:40)
They will take a year or two to settle though but it's good to know we have some more options in the long term.
Meanwhile, I rate Kieran Lee very highly and I'd love to see him get some first-team action this season (presumably, starting tomorrow night?)
Having said all that, I don't think we can under-estimate how big a difference Gaz will make to our team, in defence AND attack. Wes has done a decent job and was superb in our last two games but Nev really is different class and I can't wait to see him bombing down the right flank again. Just watch our goal difference start to climb and climb.
Michio, County Louth (25/09/2007 at 15:02)
redchad, Middleton (25/09/2007 at 16:10)
de Meester, netherlands (25/09/2007 at 16:15)
Anyhow if Wes palys as well as often and determined as he did sunday then Nevs can take his time!
Should never have been booked!
It's goals we are needing!
As for Mikey hope that he recovers. A 'successful operation' and successful recovery are two different things!
Up The Reds
Bugsy Blue (25/09/2007 at 17:22)
george (25/09/2007 at 18:37)
The current rack of clean sheets suggests defensively the balance is good.
Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester (25/09/2007 at 22:32)
monchenblue (26/09/2007 at 10:02)
how many watch your reserve games?
Sparky, Salford (26/09/2007 at 10:24)
Mick, Dublin (26/09/2007 at 10:44)
That's mainly through the grape-vine though, not a whole lot of news about them through the official channels.
monchenblue (26/09/2007 at 13:00)
we will see, good look to you if you do get that many, what concerns me though is why you need to comment on the gates that city get, you have enough problems of your own to discuss without being bothered with a club that you all profess to dislike