Paul Scholes' Manchester United return has been pencilled in for a December 10 comeback against Aalborg.

The former England star has been out since suffering knee ligament damage against the Danish outfit in mid-September.

Scholes' recent recovery has been so rapid there had been suggestions he could feature against Manchester City next weekend.

That will not happen. But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the 34-year-old could be in action immediately before the visit to Tottenham on December 13, which precedes the Club World Cup in Japan.

"Paul is coming on fine," said Ferguson.

"He will be ready for the week of the Tottenham game.

"He has started to involve himself in some of the first-team training sessions because, as always with that type of injury, he has made good progress.

"It will be a few weeks yet but he is not far away now."