Another setback for Captain Neville?

Don’t worry Man United fans, there hasn’t been another “niggling injury” halting Gary Neville’s comeback. The Manchester United defender merely believes that his lack of match fitness will mean he will have to wait until the start of next season’s league campaign for a first-team comeback, despite playing in three reserve games during his fight for fitness (even scoring in one of them, good lord!).

His most recent game being in the 4-1 demolition of local rivals Manchester City on Thursday. Cheap shot, I know.

“I’ve played three times for the Reserves since the turn of the year and this is the longest run I’ve been on in terms of training and playing games,” Neville told the official club radio.

“It’s going to take time for me to get back to full match sharpness after being out for so long (it’s now more than 12 months since Neville played for the first team). I’m probably a little bit away from first-team sharpness but the only way I’ll get that is by continuing to train with the first team.

“Hopefully I’ll get a game somewhere but that could prove difficult with the significance of the matches we have over the next few weeks. I just have to hope and pray that I get my chance at some point.

“Usually when you’re coming back from injury there’s an opportunity to throw you back into the side – maybe in one of the cup competitions – but every game’s so important now.”

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