Fabien Barthez is close to making his first appearance of the season for Manchester United.

Barthez has not figured since injurying his hip during a pre-season tournament in Amsterdam.

But the French keeper came through a closed-doors training match against Bolton on Thursday and the outlook is now looking rosier for Barthez.

"He won't make the Sunderland match and we are not sure about the Middlesbrough game next Tuesday, but he will definitely be fit for the Bolton game on 11 September," said Ferguson.

Northern Ireland international Roy Carroll has shouldered the burden so far this term, with 19-year-old reserve Ben Williams acting as stand-in.

However, the �1.5m signing of Valladolid's Spanish international goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez should alleviate the pressure on Carroll.

Ricardo has signed a three-year contract with the Old Trafford club and could make his debut against Sunderland on Saturday.