Gary Neville and Tomasz Kuszczak have both been included in United's Reserves squad for the trip to Sunderland tonight.
Kuszczak's inclusion in the 16-man group raises the prospects of Ben Foster being involved in some capacity against Derby County this weekend.
The Polish shot-stopper was sent off in the FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth, earning an immediate one-match ban. He had replaced Edwin van der Sar at half time, the Dutchman going off with a groin injury that casts doubt over his availability for the trip to Pride Park on Saturday.
Foster completed the full 90 minutes of United's 2-1 Reserves win over Middlesbrough last week and had been expected to go out on loan for the rest of the season. That is highly unlikely now, and he could even be thrust into first-team action if van der Sar does not recover in time to face the Rams.
For Reds skipper Neville, it's another step on a long road to his return for the first-team. He has been working hard on a specific fitness programme in training and is edging slowly, but surely, toward his first senior game in a year.
United squad from: Kuszczak, Zieler; Neville, Simpson, Chester, Pique, Lea; Cleverley, Eagles, Possebon, S.Evans, Gray, Barnes Hewson; Welbeck, Fagan.
ManUtd.com
Is it a sign that Foster and Heaton arent playing?
Kuszczak's inclusion in the 16-man group raises the prospects of Ben Foster being involved in some capacity against Derby County this weekend.
The Polish shot-stopper was sent off in the FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth, earning an immediate one-match ban. He had replaced Edwin van der Sar at half time, the Dutchman going off with a groin injury that casts doubt over his availability for the trip to Pride Park on Saturday.
Foster completed the full 90 minutes of United's 2-1 Reserves win over Middlesbrough last week and had been expected to go out on loan for the rest of the season. That is highly unlikely now, and he could even be thrust into first-team action if van der Sar does not recover in time to face the Rams.
For Reds skipper Neville, it's another step on a long road to his return for the first-team. He has been working hard on a specific fitness programme in training and is edging slowly, but surely, toward his first senior game in a year.
United squad from: Kuszczak, Zieler; Neville, Simpson, Chester, Pique, Lea; Cleverley, Eagles, Possebon, S.Evans, Gray, Barnes Hewson; Welbeck, Fagan.
ManUtd.com
Is it a sign that Foster and Heaton arent playing?