Neville ready to return

Reds skipper Gary Neville could make his long-awaited return to action this week for United's Reserves.

Brian McClair's side take on Liverpool on Thursday and the 32-year-old has been pencilled in to play for some much-needed match practice.

Neville has been in training for over two weeks now, but he hasn't played since since March. An ankle injury, which required surgery in the summer, kept him out at the end of the last term, while this season calf and thigh injuries have prevented him turning out for the first-team.

"We're hoping to use Gary against Liverpool reserves this week. That's the plan," says Sir Alex Ferguson. "He's getting better and he's improving all the time.

"He's over his last injury and he has been training now for over two weeks and he is at a good level.

"Because he has been out for so long, he needs games now and hopefully he can start on Thursday. It will be a good introduction for him game-wise."