Rio Ferdinand is being lined up for a return before the end of the season at Manchester United.
The Guardian says Ferdinand could give Sir Alex Ferguson a considerable boost in his quest to guide Manchester United to the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble by making an early return from a calf injury after flying to Germany to see the leading specialist, Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, for treatment this week.
Ferdinand visited Müller-Wohlfahrt, the club doctor at Bayern Munich whose previous clients include Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, the now retired Brazilian striker Ronaldo and Usain Bolt, on Monday for what is understood to have been an injection in his back to try to solve the calf problem he suffered in United's league match against Aston Villa on 1 February.
It is now thought that the player hopes to be back running soon. He is under medical supervision at United and the club's next game after the international break, the visit to West Ham United on Saturday week, may come too soon.
But, if Ferdinand does respond positively to treatment, then there would be real hope he could be fit to face Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final, in the second leg on 12 April, before the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley four days later.
