Gary Neville targets a September return

England defender Gary Neville has targeted a September return from the foot injury that saw him sidelined from the World Cup.

Neville broke a metatarsal bone in his foot during Manchester United's Champions League semi-final, first leg clash against Bayer Leverkusen in April, forcing him to withdraw from the England squad.

The 27-year-old now aims to be back in action for United's English premier league game against Bolton at Old Trafford on September 11.

"I'm hopefully going to play in a reserve team game next week, another a week later and maybe then look to be part of the first team," Neville told the club's own television channel.

"I would hope to be ready for selection in around two or three weeks."

Neville's enforced absence from the start of the premier league season, which began last Saturday, has left him with an outsider's view on Roy Keane's reaction to the furore surrounding his controversial biography.

Keane has been setting front and back page headlines in Britain after admitting to deliberately injuring Manchester City midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland in a premier league game in 2001.

FULLY FOCUSED

Neville believes Keane, who now faces a potential lawsuit from their city neighbours, is fully focused on United's quest for honours and will not take his eye off the ball as the row rumbles on.

"No way will it affect Roy," he said.

"He moves on from one day to the next and whatever comes his way he takes it in his stride. He goes out three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon and is focused on what he wants to do."

Neville also defended United's under-fire Argentine international Juan Sebastian Veron from criticism that his inclusion in midfield affected the balance of the side.

Veron himself admitted a "catastrophic" season last term as a series of below-par displays contributed to United failing to win a single trophy.

But Neville said: "Nobody works harder -- he never stops running in a game. The energy level Juan has got is incredible and I bet he runs more than any other player in our team.

"He was a scapegoat at times last season because he was a big signing, but that doesn't interest us.

"We all have a point to prove and he's just part of our team. None of us enjoyed not winning a trophy last year."