Hargreaves return on cards
The England star has not featured since the start of last season following two operations to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since before his move from Bayern Munich two years ago.
He was ruled out of the current Far East tour as he continues his rehabilitation, although it seems Hargreaves will join up with his team-mates when they head to Munich for the Audi Cup at the end of the month.
“I think we are looking at the end of September depending on how he reacts,” said Ferguson.
“We are happy with his rehabilitation so far and while he won’t be ready to play in Munich, he will be able to train.”
Hargreaves will be joined in Germany by Nemanja Vidic and Antonio Valencia, who have also missed the trip to Malaysia, South Korea and China.
Vidic has not fully recovered from an ankle injury he picked up on international duty with Serbia last month, while Valencia has been unable to play enough part in United’s early training sessions because he needed to go back to Ecuador to gain a UK visa.
Ferguson also confirmed another new-boy, Gabriel Oberton, will miss the first three months of the season with an injury which was already known about when he signed from Bordeaux.
“Obertan has an injury that will keep him out for three months or maybe more,” Ferguson said.
“We were aware of that at the medical but we’re quite happy with the situation.”
Meanwhile Manchester United chief executive David Gill has defended the club’s decision to organise a match in Indonesia as part of this summer’s Far East tour.
The trip to Jakarta was hastily cancelled, less than 36 hours before arrival, following the terrorist atrocity, which has left eight dead, scores injured and struck the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where United were intending to stay.
Fears about visiting a country where 200 were killed by the Bali bomb in 2002 were expressed when United first announced the trip earlier this year.
Such accusations are bound to be raised again given the awful events, described as a “barbaric act of murder” by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Some have even suggested the attacks took place so close to United’s arrival in order to maximise publicity because the club was bound to cancel their visit, while the fact it took place at all raises question marks about security arrangements.
However, Gill insists the correct authorities were consulted and United were right to arrange the game.
“We are experienced at travelling,” said Gill.
“We don’t take these decisions lightly. We discussed the situation with the relevant authorities and it was the right decision at the time.
“The experts felt it was a safe place to go,” he added.
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