Alex Ferguson has suffered more defensive misery after learning Gary Neville has been ruled out for a month - but the Manchester United manager has received a major lift on the striking front.

Neither Wayne Rooney nor Louis Saha will be on the plane to Lyon today for United's latest Champions League bow but both are nearing the end of their present fitness fight.

Saha has dispelled fears of a long-term knee problem by insisting he has targeted Monday's Premiership encounter with Liverpool for his comeback, while Ferguson will have been heartened at the presence of Rooney at his squad's main training session at Carrington yesterday.

Though Ferguson has insisted he will not rush Rooney's debut following his £27 million move from Everton, it is clear the teenager is on track to recover from his broken foot within the three-week timescale set by his manager on Friday.

That means Rooney could make his first United appearance against Middlesbrough on October 3rd, proving his fitness in time for England's key World Cup qualifier against Wales six days later.

Unfortunately, Neville is virtually certain to miss that match with his long-time United team-mate Ryan Giggs after a scan revealed the full back has suffered a hairline fracture of his left knee.

Meanwhile across Manchester, City manager Kevin Keegan faces a meeting with his directors today, where he will be grilled on the team's poor start to the season.

While City's manager was yesterday reassured he continued to enjoy the "robust backing" of John Wardle, the club's chairman, Keegan is well aware other members of the five-man board are considerably less enamoured with him and will demand an immediate improvement in results.

City have failed to win two consecutive league fixtures since April 2003 and have started this season by taking four points from a possible 15.