Ferguson had previously suggested the Premiership meeting with Middlesbrough on October 3 was the likely date for the 18-year-old’s debut.

However, a scan on Rooney’s injury yesterday came back all clear and the forward was able to take full part in training this morning.

It raises the outside possibility that Rooney could be on the bench at Tottenham tomorrow, or make his Old Trafford bow in Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Fenerbahce.

“Wayne is available to play,” said Ferguson. “What we have to assess is when we play him. Fitness comes into it. He’s been competitive in training and we are very pleased with him.”

Ferguson also confirmed Gary Neville (fractured knee) and Louis Saha (knee) also trained today and, like Rooney, are expected to return “within seven days”.

Having recorded only their second Premiership win of the season against Liverpool on Monday, Ferguson is looking for continuity, so Rio Ferdinand will continue in the back four with Roy Carroll keeping his place in goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo seems the most likely player to be rested if Ferguson does decide to make a change to his starting XI, a move which would offer Alan Smith, Darren Fletcher and Phil Neville hope of a recall.

Man Utd provisional squad: Carroll, Howard, Ricardo, Brown, P Neville, Heinze, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Keane, O’Shea, Bardsley, Eagles, Ronaldo, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Richardson, Fletcher, Giggs, Scholes, Smith, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney.