Manchester United Dugout

Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes is in line for a surprise early return. The Manchester United midfielder was not thought likely to return from knee surgery until Saturday at the earliest, but such has been the 34-year-old's impressive performance on the United training ground that Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to name him on the bench.

Sir Alex said, "I have Paul Scholes in mind, he is on the verge of playing again following his operation. He is training well and chomping at the bit to get started. A place on the bench with perhaps a few minutes' pitch time could be good for him. We will see how things go."

Scholes has not been involved with the Red Devils senior squad since damaging knee ligaments in the Champions League win over Aalborg at the end of September. The absence of Scholes and Hargreaves was felt in October, when even Carrick and Ronaldo were out with some knocks. But everything seems to be very promising in the United midfield now. And with younger players like Jonny Evans, Rafael, Darron Gibson, Rodrigo Possebon and Danny Welbeck, United truly have the caliber to win in the long run.