Alex Ferguson yesterday dismissed speculation that his team captain, Roy Keane, may return in time to strengthen Manchester United's challenge for the European Champions' League title.

While conceding that Keane is recuperating well from an operation in November to repair a torn cruciate ligament, he insisted that he will not play again until the start of next season.

"That was always the time frame I envisaged for him and while he is back jogging this week, there is no reason to change it," he said.

"Roy is one of the most valuable players in Europe and the last thing he or I wants is to rush things. It was a serious injury and he needs time to recover properly.

"His attitude has been brilliant and it's helped him get over the first couple of months, which are always the worst. But he is also a sensible lad who will not put everything at risk by rushing back too soon."

Ferguson's statement surprised at least some Manchester United insiders who say that the Irishman's recovery is well ahead of schedule. The final of the European Champions' League is on May 20th and the feeling is that he could be fully recovered by that stage.

Yesterday's announcement would also appear to rule out the midfielder from Mick McCarthy's preparatory programme for the European Championship. McCarthy had effectively ruled him out of the first two games, but clung to the hope that he would, perhaps, be available for the May fixture.

It now appears that he will miss the May 25th meeting with Mexico at Lansdowne Road and that, in turn, means that he will have been absent from international football for almost a year, by the time Ireland's programme starts in the autumn.

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Walter Smith last night confirmed that Paul Gascoigne had been disciplined for his flute-playing antics in the Old Firm match.

But the Ibrox boss refused to go public on what that punishment of the England midfielder entailed.

Smith said: "Paul Gascoigne has served us well over the couple of years . . . There are always bits and pieces of him that let him down now and again and that one was another story. It was dealt with internally, as indeed have all the other indiscretions in the past."

It is thought Gascoigne would have been fined two weeks' wages, believed to be in the region of £40,000, but whether Smith's actions will have appeased the Scottish Football Association is another matter.