Cleverley comeback close

Tom Cleverley is in line to make his Manchester United comeback in next month's Premier League encounter with Liverpool on February 11.

The midfielder was one of the major influences behind United's flying start to the season, which earned him England call-ups for the postponed August friendly against Holland and the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Wales.

"I am hopeful in 10 days' time he will be playing football on the training side of it anyway. That is the plan unless there is any recurrence of the injury," Ferguson said.

"Then we can kick on. When he plays properly depends how he does in the training. His fitness levels should be fine, so he could cope right away. If he can, you are talking about a week."

And that, coming in the middle of a crucial period when United face a succession of top six contenders, could provide the Red Devils with a significant lift.

"It would be a great boost to us," said Ferguson. "The way that Tom started the season was absolutely phenomenal. I have not seen a young player have that impact at our club for a long time. He has been a loss because he has something different from everyone else."