MU face Coventry challenge
Owen Hargreaves is set to kick-start his Manchester United career in Wednesday's League Cup third round tie with Championship outfit Coventry City.
The England international has made just three appearances for his new club since his 17 million pounds (34 million dollars) transfer from Bayern Munich last summer and a thigh problem has kept the midfielder sidelined since the home victory over Sunderland on September 1st.
In Hargreaves' absence, Ferguson's side have made steady progress back towards the head of the Premiership table culminating in last weekend's two-goal win against rivals Chelsea.
But with United still to hit top form this season, the return of the 26-year-old will provide the manager with a timely boost.
Ferguson, though, admits the cup tie has come too soon for injured skipper Gary Neville who has yet to play this season after suffering a succession of niggling injuries as he attempts to return following ankle surgery last May.
"Owen Hargreaves is in training and improving all the time, he's in contention for Coventry," the manager said.
"Gary Neville has joined first team training, but the Coventry game will be too early for him. We'll be looking at 7-10 days."
Hargreaves is expected to line up in a side largely made up of youngsters as Ferguson once again uses the competition to give first team experience to a clutch of fringe players.
Keeper Tomasz Kuzsczak will deputise for Edwin van der Sar who will be rested after keeping five clean sheets, the club's best run for over two years, while midfielder Lee Martin and Chris Eagles will be given the chance to press their claims for more Premiership action.
Coventry will arrive at Old Trafford backed by a remarkable support of around 11,500 travelling fans and in desperate need of a lift after an alarming drop in form.
Just a handful of days ago, Iain Dowie's side sat proudly at the head of the second tier but a return of just one point in the last three games has seen City plummet to eighth.
However the manager insists his side will not adopt a safety-first approach.
"Playing in the Carling Cup doesn't take the pressure off, but it will hopefully help us get back to some decent away form," Dowie said.
"It is a really difficult game. Of any draw it would be the most difficult, that and Arsenal away, Liverpool away or Chelsea away.
"I do think it's important that we go there with some attacking intent, particularly because we're taking 11,500 with us."
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