Ferguson scoffs at Neville 'surgery' reports

Alex Ferguson has rejected claims Gary Neville will be out for six weeks and revealed the Manchester United full-back will play at Newcastle on New Year’s Day.

Earlier in the season Ferguson admitted Neville might require surgery to correct a long-standing calf problem and reports surfaced this morning that the 31-year-old is due to have an operation at the start of next month.

Neville’s absence from United’s last three games, including this afternoon’s 3-2 win over Reading, only fuelled speculation all was not well with the England star.

However, Red Devils officials played down the fears over Neville’s fitness before the game, with Ferguson offering his own input after watching United charge six points clear of Chelsea at the Barclays Premiership summit.

“Gary is playing at Newcastle on Monday, so that six weeks has obviously been reduced by some miracle drug,” he scoffed.

“It is so silly. These reports have supposedly come from some great authority. What kind of authority is it when the lad is going to play on Monday?”

Ferguson confirmed Rio Ferdinand was receiving treatment for a kick on the shin but said Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes would definitely be available for the St James’ Park encounter after missing today’s win through suspension.