It would be absurd to dismiss Manchester United as a one-man team, but, as Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to rush back to action this week a fortnight ahead of schedule, it will be to sighs of relief around Old Trafford.

After a summer spent flirting with Real Madrid, Ronaldo is no longer guaranteed the adulation of the United supporters, but, with his customary modesty, he stated yesterday that “when I play again, the fans will love me again”. Whether they do or not, they will certainly welcome back the Portugal forward if, as Sir Alex Ferguson hopes, he is able to be named among the substitutes to face Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday, or away to Chelsea on Sunday.

In his absence, after ankle surgery, the European champions have struggled in the opening weeks of the season, winning only one of their opening three Barclays Premier League games, losing to Zenit St Petersburg in the Uefa Super Cup and requiring a penalty shoot-out to overcome Portsmouth in the Community Shield.

After a 2-1 defeat at Anfield on Saturday, United are fourteenth in the Premier League, six points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, and five behind Arsenal, albeit having played one game fewer than those clubs. At the same time that they were suffering a rare defeat away to Liverpool, Ronaldo was in his native Madeira, picking up the European Golden Boot award in recognition of his 31 league goals last season – a reminder, as if one were necessary, of what United have been missing.

“With this Golden Boot I have changed football a little,” Ronaldo said. “Usually strikers win this award and I am a winger. To be honest, I think I have been the most consistent and the best. And over time I want to enter the book of all-time greatest players. When I put on that [United] shirt, I give my all. I am already in the history of the club. When I play again, the fans will love me again.”

That is true of many supporters, but not all. It is not merely his injury that has meant his name has not been chanted this season, just as it is symbolic that his “Viva Ronaldo” chant has been modified to “Viva John Terry” in mock tribute of the Chelsea captain, whose penalty shoot-out miss in Moscow went a long way towards securing the European Cup for United. Ronaldo’s behaviour in pursuing a move to Real has not been forgiven or forgotten, but, as flimsy as his long-term commitment to United is, his importance to the cause is immense. Since the start of last season, United have played 41 Premier League matches, losing just six, four in games that he did not start.

Even with Ronaldo back on board, United face a testing week, with Michael Carrick unlikely to play in either match after suffering a foot injury against Liverpool on Saturday.

Paul Scholes will miss the Villarreal match after his red card against Zenit and Nemanja Vidic will play no part at Stamford Bridge because of his sending-off against Liverpool.

If there was one piece of good news for United this weekend, it came when Ronaldo dismissed the notion that he might be tempted to join Manchester City after their proposed takeover by Arab billionaires. “I don’t see myself in the shirt of another Manchester team,” he said. That is a long way from the emphatic declaration of loyalty that United’s fans have been waiting for since the Champions League final, but, under the circumstances, it will have to do.