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SOCCER: MAN-U’S NEVILLE HOPES TO RETURN TO ACTION SOON September 11, 2007
(SomaliNet) After almost six months on the sidelines, Manchester United captain Gary Neville hopes to return to action in the next fortnight.
The England right-back has not played for the Red Devils since March 17, when he was forced off with an ankle injury in a 4-1 win against Bolton.
The 32-year-old had been expected to return to action at the start of the new season but then suffered a thigh injury, although he admits there is now 'light at the end of the tunnel'.
Explaining how he suffered the thigh setback, he told MUTV: 'I probably did a bit too much, I was a bit over-excited getting back and I just felt my thigh a little bit. It's frustrating and has added a bit of extra time (to the recovery).
'Hopefully in the next week or two I'll be back and I hope to be playing games in the next couple of weeks definitely.
'Because I've been out for such a long time I think the Everton game is going to be too soon, I think it will probably be after that.'
Neville admitted it had been a long road back, and faces a tough task to unseat Micah Richards from the national team right-back berth for the qualifiers against Estonia and Russia next month.
'When I originally did it (the ankle injury) I thought I'd be out for six to eight weeks, but I had a problem with a loose bit of bone and that's why I had to have the operation to get rid of it which was another three months,' Neville added.
'Then this thigh injury just made it a few extra weeks longer so it's the longest injury I've ever had.
'It is frustrating but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I just need to get fit.'-ESPN