Double boost for United

Alex Ferguson has had a double dose of good news on the injury front with Wes Brown and Louis Saha both nearing first-team returns.

Brown has been pencilled in for a reserve-team outing against Middlesbrough on Thursday, while Saha, who has been plagued by knee problems for 18 months, could be on the bench for next Wednesday’s Carling Cup tie with Barnet providing he comes through training without a reaction.