CAPE TOWN: Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to hand Manchester United captain Gary Neville his first ninety minutes for over eighteen months against Orlando Pirates tomorrow after seeing the veteran defender take another huge stride back towards full fitness in Cape Town.
The former England full-back has been forced to battle back from the brink at Old Trafford after being ravaged by ankle and calf injuries since limping out of the Premier League clash with Bolton in March 2007.
Neville made just one brief substitute appearance for United last season – against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final – and doubts still remain over the 33-year-old’s ability to return to his best in a United shirt.
But although Neville conceded a penalty with a late challenge in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs at Newlands, boss Ferguson admitted that the hour he played in that game was another vital step for the long-serving defender.
And Neville is now expected to be given a full game against Pirates in Durban when United move on to the second stage of their three-game tour of South Africa.
Ferguson said: “Gary had his first 45 minutes in sixteen months against Aberdeen, which is a long time out at his age, before we came out to South Africa and, a week later, he has come on again with his hour against Kaizer Chiefs.
“Obviously his tackling has not improved! But I am very pleased because he is a remarkable man.
“Anyone who has played football knows that, when you get to your 30s and been out of the game for 16 months, your comeback is very, very difficult.
“But his enthusiasm and the speed of his play on Saturday was quite phenomenal. He takes a lot of the credit, the boy.”
