Owen Hargreaves is confident of returning for Manchester United ahead of schedule.

It was reported the England midfielder would not be back in action until January after knee surgery last November.

But Hargreaves will report with the rest of the United squad next month and announce he is ready to return in October.

Hargreaves has made only 25 starts in two years at Old Trafford - and can't wait to get back in the gym to step up his recovery work.

He said: "I'm going to come back stronger and hopefully add a couple of years to my career.

"It's been so frustrating. As an athlete and being so competitive, it's hard to watch when you normally would be out there."