Christiano Ronaldo is almost ready for an earlier than expected return to first team action according to United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Fergie has said that the United winger, who is yet to play this season having undergone an ankle operation in the summer, may even travel with the United squad for Saturday's match against Liverpool at Anfield.

"Ronaldo is training now, he's with the first team. He's come on leaps and bounds and I may take him with us tomorrow, who knows? But he's more likely to be involved next week.

"I think we mentioned a couple of weeks ago he was making rapid progress in terms of overcoming the injury problem he had and the training he's been doing with the physios and Tony Strudwick the fitness coach.

"He's been making great strides in the direction towards first-team football."