SAINT NICK IS COMING

Last updated : 18 December 2002 By Editor

Reports last week claimed that Nicky Butt had broken down and would be out for another two months. Not according to Teamtalk though.

Manchester United star Nicky Butt is set to return to full training on Monday after missing over two months of the season with an ankle injury.

With Roy Keane hoping to feature in Sunday's Premiership game at Blackburn after returning to action in a reserve outing on Thursday, Sir Alex Ferguson is set to have a near-full strength squad available early in the New Year.

Keane and Butt have been the longest absentees in an injury list which has included Rio Ferdinand, Fabien Barthez, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Wes Brown.

"It will be good to start training again because I have done a lot of fitness work in the gym but it is not like match practice, " said Butt.

The 27-year-old will have a tough task to force his way back into the side but he is prepared to bide his time in the wake of United's improved form.

"The way the team is playing at the moment, they are doing that well you are not going to have much of a chance to get back in," he added.

"It is just a case of being patient and when you get your chance, just to take it."