Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may allow Cristiano Ronaldo to return home to Portugal until their January 11 clash with Chelsea.

The Times says Ferguson has often given his younger overseas players dispensation to return briefly to their homeland during the winter months, with Anderson and Carlos Tévez back in Brazil and Argentina respectively this week.

And now would appear the ideal time to allow Ronaldo a brief rest, particularly given that United's next two matches are against Southampton in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and Derby County in the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg a week today before they face Chelsea at Old Trafford. Ronaldo may be involved against Southampton, but he is almost certain to sit out the Carling Cup tie.