Neville eyeing return after frustrating lay-off
Neville wants to step up his recovery after two reserve games in two weeks following a year-long absence with an ankle injury.
He played 70 minutes in midweek and now has his sights firmly set on rejoining the race for the Barclays Premier League title.
“It’s great to be playing football again,” Neville said.
“That’s my second game in a couple of weeks and I seem to have come through it okay.
“In that sense it’s a real positive. By next week I’d like to be involved with the first team, even if it’s just travelling with the side and being part of it again.”
Neville was injured last March against Bolton and has suffered a number of setbacks.
He said: “Hopefully I’ve seen the back of it now. I just need to concentrate on training hard and playing well.
“It’s been a frustrating period and a very long time — too long. No footballer likes not playing.
“I am not the first footballer to be out for 12 months. You just have to get on with it,” he added yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs could return to the side at Derby tomorrow after a four-match absence as United look to recover from the FA Cup defeat by Portsmouth.
However, the former Wales captain knows there is no need to rush back because of the strength of the squad.
He said: “We had only 11 or 12 players to choose from this time last season, so sometimes you had to play with little niggles.
“But it is completely different this year as we have a lot of players fit.
“We have two players for every position, so if you have a small injury or are a bit tired the manager can change things around.”
Goalkeeper Ben Foster is in line to make his debut as Edwin van der Sar has a groin problem and Tomasz Kuszczak is suspended.
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