Manchester United captain Roy Keane is expected to return to training in a fortnight and could - FA inquiries permitting - make his first team comeback within a month.
Manager Alex Ferguson initially felt Keane, recovering from a hip operation, would be sidelined for three months but has revised the recovery time to six weeks.
"Keane and [Wes] Brown will be back training within a couple of weeks and playing again within a month," said Ferguson.
The former Republic of Ireland captain is facing a lengthy ban after the FA charged him on two counts of bringing the game into disrepute following the release of his controversial autobiography.
But Ferguson confirmed striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has not trained this week. The Dutch striker is nursing a the hamstring strain which forced him to miss Tuesday's 4-0 defeat of Olympiakos.
"Ruud has not trained yet but hopefully will be okay by Monday," said Ferguson. "But if there is any doubt we won't take a chance".
PA