Wes Brown is set to return just in time to ease a potential injury crisis for Manchester United. John O’Shea and defensive colleague Gary Neville could be out for weeks, according to manager Alex Ferguson after being forced out of last night’s 2-0 win over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

It would leave only Rafael as cover at right-back and while the Brazilian has had an outstanding season for United, Ferguson might be reluctant to rely solely on a teenager during the crucial latter stages of the campaign.

However, after a season wrecked by injury, Brown came through a reserve-team

return at Preston on Monday and Ferguson is ready to draft Brown into his squad for Saturday’s encounter with Tottenham.

Brown had been missing with a foot injury since October. Although he did briefly return to action with a couple of substitute appearances at the end of January, the defender then dropped back out of the side.

However, while his performance at Anfield much earlier this season did attract criticism, Ferguson will not have forgotten Brown was the mainstay of a defence that won both the Premier League and Champions League trophies last term.

O’Shea and Neville will both be assessed today to discover the extent of their respective problems.

O’Shea hurt his ankle following a late tackle by Nadir Belhadj.

At least United also expect to have Rio Ferdinand available for the weekend as well.

Ferdinand sat out last night’s game as a precaution after pushing himself through extra-time in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final, only the second game of his comeback from a groin injury.