Silvestreeager to return to action

MIKAEL SILVESTRE admits his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury has been “boring” and cannot wait to return to action with Manchester United.

The French defender, 30, has made only three appearances this season, including the FA Community Shield against Chelsea at Wembley.

It has been a slow and frustrating road to recovery for the former Inter Milan player, who had missed the end of last season following a shoulder injury suffered against Lille at Old Trafford in the Champions League.

Silvestre has been allowed to do some fitness work away from the club back in France, and also took a holiday with his family to the United States.

The defender feels he is “more than halfway” through his recovery programme after being forced out of the Everton game on September 15, and he cannot wait to start building up his sharpness back on the pitch again.

“I have been doing five, six hours a day of rehab since I got injured,” Silvestre said.

“It is a bit boring and very tiring because I only stay in the gym and don’t get to go on the field.

“I’m not even running outside yet, only in the pool. I’m not even touching the ball. So it is very boring.

“It is a long process and a long time without enjoying myself on the field.”

Having done some sight-seeing around Manhattan and the “usual stuff for tourists”, the United defender is fully focused on getting back into competitive action as soon as possible to help United as they battle for honours at home and in Europe.

“I know if I come back to my best then I will be able to play again because there are so many games. You always get an opportunity to play,” said Silvestre, who expects to be close to a return by March and to be in contention for France’s Euro 2008 squad.

The Red Devils return to their battle to overhaul Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal this weekend, when they take on Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, French club Lyon stand in the way of United and a place in the last eight of the Champions League.

Ferguson intends to mount a sustained assault on all fronts in 2008.

“I am looking for success in Europe as well as at home. We have the players and the back-up to do it,” he said yesterday.

“We are a more mature team this season in terms of European football and we have played some successful and entertaining stuff.”

“The main reason for my optimism is the way we have knitted together as a team,” he added, “with the new players settling to make the kind of impact we were not entitled to expect so soon.”