Wayne Rooney has recovered from a freak ankle injury sustained in training and is raring to go again. The England striker had scored nine goals in nine games for United and England he fell awkwardly during a game of head-tennis just 24 hours before United's Premier League victory over Blackburn Rovers three weeks ago.
While he's been sidelined, United have fallen three points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, and England have seen their Euro 2008 qualification hopes go up in smoke.
However, manager Sir Alex Ferguson is sure Rooney's return to the front line will spark an upsurge in United's league form following last weekend's shock defeat by Bolton.
He sees Rooney, 22, as something of a talisman for the team, and says ahead of Monday's clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage:
"Wayne has been training with the first team and has a few extra days to prepare, so I think he will be ready.
"He won't need any encouragement to play, that is for sure.
"His endurance work is fine and his fitness levels are good. He has not even been out for a month so I wouldn't imagine it will take him a long time to get his rhythm."