NOT LONG NOW FOLKS

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Manchester United will get a striker boost during the transfer window - with the return of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian's recovery from a knee operation in September has dragged on as the 30-year-old has battled to build up the muscle on his injured leg. But now the goalscorer is a month away from match action.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has pencilled Solskjaer in for a reserve outing away to Birmingham City on January 15.

It's good news for the Reds as Fergie weighs up his potential transfer options during next month's four-week long window.

"Ole is a great alternative as a striker, but his performances as an outside right last season were very, very good," says Sir Alex. "He was outstanding in that position. It was something we maybe didn't expect of him.

“We have always regarded him as an out-and-out finisher. But he has such good intelligence of the game that you could see him developing as a footballer in terms of playing other positions. It was a real bonus for us his performance playing on the right.”