Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Neville realistic over return

03 Jan 2008 - 11:18:32

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Manchester United captain Gary Neville has admitted he faces a fight to regain his first-team place following his near ten-month injury lay off.

The United and England right-back has been sidelined since damaging ankle ligaments in a Premier League game against Bolton Wanderers last March.

The 32-year-old has seen several attempted comebacks frustrated by related problems but believes he is now close to a first-team return.

However, Neville isn't expecting to walk straight back into Sir Alex Ferguson's starting plans.

"It's hard to say how far away from a return I am to be honest," he told the club's official website.

"If you ask me today I'd say I'm close as I've trained with the team for two-and-a-half weeks now and I even felt like I could have been involved against Birmingham City on New Year's Day.

"Obviously what's going against me is the fact I haven't played football for ten months and I think it could be difficult for me to get a match.

"The lads have some momentum going now, they've defended well and Wes (Brown) has done extremely well at right-back.

"There aren't many opportunities for the manager to throw me into the side to ease me back in.

"If there was a reserves game or a Carling Cup match tomorrow then I'd probably be playing, but we have important league and FA Cup matches now and it would probably be a risk to play me in one of those since I haven't been on the pitch for ten months."