Fergie considers Campbell recall

United boss impressed by capital loanee

Last updated: 22nd November 2008

fraizer campbell tottenham

Campbell: January return?

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Sir Alex Ferguson is weighing up whether to bring Fraizer Campbell back to Old Trafford in January, following his fine form for Tottenham this season.

The Manchester United striker moved to White Hart Lane on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day, as part of the deal that saw United pay a club record £30.75million fee for Dimitar Berbatov.

Campbell initially failed to make much of an impression under then manager Juande Ramos but like many of Spurs' players has flourished under Harry Redknapp.

Three goals in two games has seen Ferguson sit up and take notice and with Berbatov currently injured, Campbell could return to his parent club in the New Year.

January option

"We could pull him back in January," said Ferguson. "We have to the option and it is a possibility.

"The boy has been fantastic at Spurs.

"He is a good player but we needed to get him first-team experience, so we agreed to it so the deal with Berbatov went through."

However, while Campbell's short-term future remains undecided, Danny Welbeck's is very much at Old Trafford.

The Longsight-born star does not celebrate his 18th birthday until next week but he has already made a big impression on Ferguson.

His improvement has been so rapid, some pundits have suggested Welbeck will be the next United player to further their education elsewhere for a short time.

But Ferguson feels Welbeck is too young to lose day-to-day control of his development and by mixing infrequent appearances in the first team with events like next Thursday's Youth Cup tie with Chelsea at Old Trafford, he can get enough football by staying where he is.

"It would be crazy to let Danny go out on loan," said Ferguson.

"He is too young. He is still that gangly lad who has not fully matured.

Welbeck promise

"We can work on his physique knowing we are not playing him all the time.

"He trains with the first-team squad all the time now but he can also go and enjoy himself playing for the youth team or the reserves."

The attention on Welbeck has only increased because Ghana have made a bid for his services.

Capped by England at Under 19 level, Welbeck could continue along the Three Lions path or choose to represent the country of his parents.

Ferguson has offered some sound advice - ignore both and play for Scotland instead.

"His parents are from Ghana so it is not a surprise," he reflected.

"It is the boy's choice, although I would be surprised if he didn't play for Scotland. That is my big challenge now."

Meanwhile at the other end of the age scale, Paul Scholes has been pencilled in for a 10th December comeback against Aalborg.

Scholes boost

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 Ferguson says the 34-year-old could be in action immediately before the visit to Tottenham on 13th December, 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."