Wayne Rooney Set for Shock Manchester United Return Against Galatasaray

Manchester United could be handed a major boost in the countdown to their Champions League opener with Galatasaray.

According to The Sun, Wayne Rooney has made a startling recovery from the badly-gashed leg he sustained against Fulham.

Reports suggest he could feature in United's European curtain opener and will almost certainly be involved in the Red Devils' next Premier League match against Liverpool (via The Daily Mail).

Such a turnaround would be great news for Sir Alex Ferguson's men.

In the wake of last year's disappointing Champions League campaign, in which United failed to escape a favourable group, the Old Trafford faithful are desperate to grab a victory in the first fixture.

Ferguson has indicated his side will learn from previous mistakes and vows to keep the team composed as they go in search of European glory (via The World Game).

While it's unlikely Rooney will start, his presence on the United bench would provide a boost for the entire team.

Robin van Persie is expected to return to the side after sitting most of the last match against Wigan. Shinji Kagawa should also make an appearance after missing the previous fixture. Both Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez started against the Latics and are expected to drop to the bench for this one.

If Rooney does return, he must be given time to make an impact. The striker looked unfit before his injury occurred. A lack of training across the past month means he is likely to be feeling rusty and could be in need of extra practice in time for United's showdown at Anfield.

Galatasaray fans will be hoping the influential player doesn't get on the pitch against their beloved side. Rooney has an excellent record against Turkish opposition and bagged a hat trick on his United debut in a 6-2 win over Fenerbahce.

Should the striker be afforded time on the pitch in the Champions League clash, I wouldn't bet against him doing that again.