Gary Neville, the Manchester United and England full back, expects to have to wait until next season for a return to first team action.

Neville, who has not appeared in the Premier League for almost a year because of ankle and groin injuries, has played in a few reserve team matches of late but expects a long wait before he gets back in the Premier League leader's first-choice lineup.

"It's going to take time for me to get back to full match sharpness after being out for so long," Neville said. "Hopefully I'll get a game somewhere but that could prove difficult with the significance of the matches we have over the next few weeks. I just have to hope and pray that I get my chance at some point."

"Usually when you're coming back from injury, there's an opportunity to throw you back into the side — maybe in one of the cup competitions — but every game's so important now."

Neville was initially injured in March 2007, during a match against Bolton Wanderers but has had several setbacks since.

Wes Brown has filled in at right back to help the club win last season's Premier League and build a five-point lead with seven games left in this season's competition.