Premiership: Wes targets World Cup place

Manchester United defender Wes Brown is targeting a place in England’s World Cup squad as he nears the end of his recovery from his knee injury.

Wes Brown is targeting a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s World Cup squad as he nears the end of his recovery from his knee injury.

Brown could be back playing for Manchester United in a couple of weeks after he damaged his medial ligaments in training at the start of December.

The England defender has stepped up his rehabilitation programme and is running and doing gym work.

His first goal is to win back his place in the United side and then he is looking towards this summer’s World Cup finals in Japan and Korea.

‘‘First of all I’ve got to try and get back into the United team,’’ he said.

‘‘It would be great to go to the World Cup and that would be everyone’s dream.

‘‘My recovery is going well and I’m doing everything apart from striking a ball.

‘‘I’m doing all the running and gym work and it’s just when I strike the ball I get a sharp pain which means it’s not quite ready yet.’’

Brown is on course to return by the end of the month, as predicted by Sir Alex Ferguson when he sustained the injury.

However the centre-back did not want to put himself under any more pressure by setting any comeback dates.

‘‘I’m not sure,’’ he said . ‘‘I’m just trying to make sure it’s right before I come back.

‘‘I’ve not really got a time. I’ve just got to make sure I don’t rush it and that it’s fine before I do come back.’’