United midfield duo to return

Key pair to provide double boost for Reds' engine room

By Ashley Marshall   Last updated: 12th October 2008

Michael Carrick Manchester United v Portsmouth

Carrick: Set to return

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Manchester United's injury-hit midfield will be given a boost with the imminent return of Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves.

Both players are getting closer to full fitness and the England duo could return to the heart of the United team as early as next weekend.

With Paul Scholes expected to be out until December with a knee injury picked up against AaB Aalborg, Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to include both players in his squad to face West Brom on Saturday.

Carrick has missed the last six matches since breaking a bone in his foot against Liverpool in September, while Hargreaves has fought a long-term knee problem ever since he moved to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich last summer.

Ferguson believes 27-year-old Carrick will almost certainly be in contention to face the Baggies, with Hargreaves also likely to feature. Park Ji-Sung, Anderson or Darren Fletcher could make way for the returning pair.

Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News: "We are expecting Michael to be available next week. He is almost back to full training now.

"Owen is much better and we will pencil him in for the West Brom game without question."