Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says their injury problems are lifting.

Including suspended winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson was without eight members of his senior squad for Sunday's 1-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Some of his absentees, notably Park Ji-sung and Ben Foster, will not be seen again until the new year after major knee surgery, while Wayne Rooney is out for a couple of months after fracturing his foot in the opening game against Reading.

However, Ronaldo has just one more game of his three-match suspension to serve, while both Louis Saha and Anderson should be involved next Saturday when Roy Keane returns to his old stamping ground as manager of Sunderland.

The duo were expected to be part of the squad that faced Spurs but in the end, Ferguson decided they would benefit from an extra week's training.

"We have some excellent players to come back, so we have to be patient," said the United boss.

"Louis Saha and Anderson will be fit for next Saturday's game and Gary Neville will be back in a couple of weeks.

"We are getting there but it is just going to take a bit of time."