Ruud van Nistelrooy could be back for Manchester United at Everton on Saturday if he comes through training without a problem this week.
The 28-year-old Holland striker returns to United's Carrington training base tomorrow after almost three months on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.
Alex Ferguson has always maintained van Nistelrooy's target was the Champions League clash with AC Milan on February 23rd.
But if van Nistelrooy proves his fitness during the week, a spot on the bench for the FA Cup encounter at Goodison Park is a definite possibility as Ferguson looks to ease the pressure on Wayne Rooney.
"Ruud comes back tomorrow and we need to assess how far on he is," said the United boss. "The training he has been doing in Holland has been perfect and I am very satisfied with it.
"There is a chance he could be involved against Everton but we will just have to see how he comes through training."
Van Nistelrooy was only removed as United's top scorer yesterday when Rooney netted his 13th of the campaign to put the Red Devils on the road to a Manchester derby victory.
PA