Keane set for return to United squad after reserve comeback

Roy Keane may be in contention for a return to Manchester United's first team against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday after making his long-awaited comeback from injury in the reserves at Old Trafford last night.

Under the watchful gaze of the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, Keane came through a 90-minute workout against Newcastle's second string, although he was unable to prevent the home side slipping to a 3-2 defeat.

The controversial former Republic of Ireland international, who has yet to decide whether he will reverse his decision not to play for his country following the departure of manager Mick McCarthy last month, has not appeared for his club side since his dismissal against Sunderland at the end of August.

Since then, Keane has spent over three months on the sidelines recovering from a hip operation and has also been forced to pay a record £150,000 fine and serve a five-match ban for comments made about a challenge on the Manchester City midfielder Alf Inge Haaland in his autobiography.

While Keane is determined to put a turbulent recent past, including his summer World Cup walk-out, behind him, he showed his absence has done little to diminish his notorious competitiveness, on one occasion venting his fury with Ricardo after the United reserve goalkeeper failed to release the ball early enough.

Showing some deft touches, there was little evidence of rustiness in Keane's play and, although United's first team will be bidding for their ninth-successive win when they visit Ewood Park on Sunday, Ferguson is almost certain to include the talismanic midfielder in the squad should he show no ill effects from last night's run out.

Keane even had a couple of late chances to mark his reappearance with a goal but twice shot narrowly over as United pressed for an equaliser after they had conceded two goals in four minutes midway through the second period.

There was more good news for Ferguson when the midfielder Nicky Butt said he hoped to return to action next week. The England international has been out since damaging his ankle in a Premier League game against Everton in October. "I am getting there slowly," Butt said. "It is a case of taking it easy now and not doing anything stupid."