Paul Scholes is poised to make his long-awaited return for Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round clash with Tottenham Hotspur on January 27.

The 33-year-old midfielder has been missing since suffering a knee injury in the 4-1 league victory against Aston Villa in October.

But the former England player has successfully completed his rehabilitation programme and is now hoping to get the all clear to resume playing when he meets with the club's medical staff next Thursday.

"We are just waiting for clearance," Carlos Queiroz, United's assistant manager, said. "We expect to get that from the medical staff next Thursday and he will be ready to start full training and playing again.

"He can play immediately if he gets the all clear. His overall fitness is fantastic and he is training like an 18-year-old boy.

"He is starting to smell that he is coming back. It is coming very soon. It's possible he could be back for the FA Cup game. We hope that after the clearance next Thursday it's possible he can at least be back on the bench."

Without Scholes, United have overhauled Arsenal at the head of the Premier League and progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

And manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that one of the unexpected benefits of the veteran's absence has been the emergence of Brazilian teenager Anderson in the attacking midfield role.

But Queiroz believes that Scholes's comeback - together with the expected imminent return of Louis Saha and Gary Neville from knee and ankle injuries respectively - will provide a crucial lift to United as they enter the most important part of the season.

He added: "It's fantastic because we have completed six months of hard competition, and played three games in seven days in January.

"And to have Saha, Scholes and Gary coming back at the end of this month really is fantastic news."

Neville has been out for 11 months with a succession of injuries but is close to full fitness and could join Ferguson's squad on next week's trip to Saudi Arabia.

"Gary will either travel or play in the reserves next week," Queiroz said, adding: "And Louis is fine. He is one step ahead along the rehab process. It is possible he will be back earlier than expected."

United will attempt to maintain their slender adavantage over Arsenal when they travel to face Steve Coppell's Reading at the Madejski Stadium, anxious to avoid a repeat of last season's fixture when Ferguson's team were held to a 1-1 draw.

"Everybody knows Reading's home form was good last season," Queiroz said. "This season they haven't had the same results but it is still at home where they build most of their points. But we are confident and have to trust we will repeat the performance we had against Newcastle last week.

And the Portugese added: "Steve is doing a fantastic job. They are very well organised and have a fantastic attitude. We saw them against Spurs in the FA Cup game this week and they never rest. The two forwards and Kitson and Doyle have done really well. And we know what happened last season."