Keane to Return Sooner Than Expected?

Roy Keane

The United number sixteen has been out since United's first leg win over Deportivo La Coruna three weeks ago. At the time there were fears that he had suffered a recurrance of the cruciate ligament injury that had almost ended his career in 1997.

Keane has made a fantastic recovery and may be able to return to the side as early as next week. Despite returning to training yesterday (Monday), he will not be fit to take any part in the first leg. He will have to watch from the sidelines along with fellow injured stars David Beckham, Ronny Johnsen and Quinton Fortune.

Alex Ferguson said: "I've been very surprised by his recovery ".

"The treatment we have given him has been different. He's been in an oxygen cylinder. He's spent three days in there, and thats certainly helped the recovery."

"It's been a remarkable recovery over a couple of days".