Source: Daily_Mail
Antonia Valencia set for Manchester United return in FA Cup quarter-final
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Antonio Valencia could make his comeback in Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal or Leyton Orient on March 12. [LNB]Valencia has been out of action since suffering a badly broken ankle in the opening match of this season's Champions League against Rangers in September.[LNB] But the Ecuador international returned to training last week and Ferguson confirmed a first-team appearance has been pencilled in.[LNB] Ouch: Antonio Valencia (floored) has been out of action since breaking an ankle in September[LNB] 'Antonio is training very well now,' the United boss said ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie in Marseille.[LNB] 'He is involved on the contact side and the signs are very encouraging. We expect him to be ready by the Arsenal cup tie.' [LNB]Valencia was one of seven senior players who were missing when the Red Devils flew out of Manchester this morning. [LNB]However, Ferguson does not view it as an insurmountable problem, especially as most of the absentees will be back for the second leg at Old Trafford in three weeks' time. [LNB] Wing wizard: Valencia was one of the stars of United's season last term[LNB]'Anderson got injured in the first half on Saturday,' Ferguson added. 'We have sent him to Portugal to see a specialist he has dealt with over there. That will be two weeks, three at the most. [LNB]'Ryan Giggs should be okay for the Wigan game on Saturday, while Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans should be back for the Chelsea game next week.[LNB] 'We have missed Park Ji-sung because he has been such a good player for us, but he should be back in two or three weeks.' [LNB]Ferguson, meanwhile, left no-one in any doubt who he blamed for the stormy nature of Heinze's departure, absolving the player from any responsibility.[LNB] Relief: It was feared Anderson could be out for two months but the midfielder will miss just two or three weeks[LNB] 'I have no issues at all with Gabriel Heinze,' he said. 'It was not down to him. It was a bad agent that engineered the situation.[LNB] 'He tried to trick (chief executive) David Gill, which we then proved to have no foundation, and we stopped his attempt to get him to Liverpool.[LNB] 'Gabriel was a fantastic player for us. In his three years, he did very well.' [LNB] Ferdinand, Giggs and Owen among United's missing five for Marseille visitFergie welcomed by a 'bonfire of passions' at the... Marseille bearpit! Carrick still revels in buzz of Champions League as United prepare to face MarseilleAll the latest Manchester United FC news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Ryan Giggs, Park Ji-sung, Rio Ferdinand, Gabriel Heinze, Antonio Valencia, David Gill Places: Liverpool, Manchester, Ecuador, Portugal