Neville starts comeback for United
MANCHESTER, England — England defender Gary Neville will make his return for Manchester United on Thursday night, playing in a local cup tie against Stockport. The 32-year-old injured an ankle in March and has also been troubled by muscle strains this season.
Neville is unlikely to be ready to face Arsenal in the big Premier League clash at the Emirates’ Stadium on Saturday but Rio Ferdinand will be fit to face the league leaders.
Ferdinand had a scan this week, fearing that a groin problem might have recurred, but United announced that the defender would be able to play on Saturday.
He trained with the rest of the squad on Tuesday and is considered fully fit and ready to play against the Gunners, United said.
With a Neville a possible for the bench for United’s Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev, England manager Steve McLaren could have hopes of recalling him for the Euro 2008 qualifier at home to Croatia on November 21.
Manchester City’s Micah Richards, who has proved a more than able deputy in Neville’s absence from the England line-up, was carried off in a League cup victory over Bolton and was having a scan on Thursday.
Neville will not find it easy to command an automatic first team spot at Old Trafford with the side having won 11 of their last 12 games and his deputy Wes Brown playing well.
The lads are playing well and I want to be part of it, said Neville. I’ve made myself available but with the way Wes is playing it might be a case of easing me back in over the space of a couple of weeks. E-mail to a friend
