Neville Steps Up Comeback

Last updated : 14 March 2008 By Sam
The 33-year-old full-back, who has been sidelined for twelve months with an ankle injury, played 70 minutes of the game against Sunderland's second string.

"It's great to be playing football again," Neville told MUTV.

"That's my second game in a couple of weeks and I seem to have come through it okay.

"In that sense it's a real positive, although I want to get back into travelling with the first team.

"By next week I'd like to be involved with the first team, even if it's just travelling with the side and being part of it again.

"Hopefully I've seen the back of it now," Neville continued. "I just need to concentrate on training hard and playing well.

"It's been a frustrating period and a very long time - too long. No footballer likes not playing but I'm not the first footballer to be out for 12 months. You just have to get on with it.

"Playing with the reserves is really exciting for me. Just being out on the pitch and on the training ground... I love doing that."