Roy Keane could be back in action within days of his Football Association disciplinary hearing.
The Manchester United captain is recovering from a hip operation, but is also suspended following his recent dismissal against Sunderland.
United boss Alex Ferguson has suggested Keane could be missing for three months after undergoing surgery.
However, after taking advice from Arsenal, where Freddie Ljungberg underwent the same operation, Ferguson is hoping his captain will be fit within a month.
Keane, therefore, could make a dramatic comeback for the Champions League trip to Olympiakos on October 23rd - eight days after his FA hearing.
Keane confirmed yesterday that he would be defending himself against FA charges that he deliberately set out to injure Alfie Haaland at Old Trafford in May last year and also that he has profited from the tackle by referring to the incident in his recently-released autobiography.