Ben Foster is set to hand Manchester United and England a significant injury boost.

The Guardian says Foster, who needed an operation in the close season to deal with a persistent knee-ligament problem, was not expected to be available until March but the specialists who have been treating him believe he could return in January.

Foster was arguably the finest English goalkeeper in the Premier League last season, while on loan at Watford, and if he is available for the second half of the season it gives him an outstanding chance, qualification permitting, of being called up for the England squad for next summer's European Championship.