Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says a number of key players will soon be back from injury.
Striker Wayne Rooney is expected to be back in the squad for next week's home game against Aston Villa.
Phil Jones and Ashley Young are also on their way to recovery with striker Adnan Januzaj expected to be back in two weeks.
"It is very important that our captain is coming back," van Gaal told MUTV.
"He only trained with us for two sessions and then you are not fit to play. That is the big difference. Everyone is thinking Wayne is fit again but it is not like that. He has to build up his capacity to play a match at the level of a Premier League match.
"They [Phil Jones and Ashley Young] are more or less fit players because you cannot be fit after one game at a lower level.
"We have a big squad now, we are training with 26 people and we have to adapt to that new situation again, but it is very promising now.
"Adnan [Januzaj] was injured and he is still injured but he shall also come back, it is not such a heavy injury.
"He is not fit to play in the reserves or in the first team."
