Manchester United captain Gary Neville has received some much-needed good news over his injury problems.

Neville has not played a first team game for United since breaking his right ankle against Bolton in March.

Although it was originally suggested the 32-year-old would have recovered in time to play in last season's FA Cup Final, he was eventually sent for surgery after unexpected complications.

Since then it has been an almost never-ending tale of misery for the long-serving defender.

His comeback was delayed by calf and thigh problems, then on Friday, Ferguson confirmed Neville had been pulled out of a planned outing against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday because he was still experiencing pain in his ankle.

It has been a worrying time for the England man, even though Ferguson has always been confident he would return.

Now, Neville has been given the all clear to resume training again next week and could be involved in United's packed Christmas programme.

"I think Gary will be okay," said Ferguson. "We sent him back to the specialist but the assessment is very good.

"It was more like a scar tissue problem. We will work on that and get him back to normal training sessions next week."