Hernandez gets all-clear to return after 'bump'

The knock on Hernandez was not as serious as feared (GETTY IMAGES)

Javier Hernandez will be back in training today, according to the Manchester United striker's agent.

The Mexican was injured following a late challenge by Ashley Cole in Sunday's 3-1 defeat of Chelsea. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's immediate reaction was to rule Hernandez out for two weeks but there were fears the striker could be sidelined for much longer.

However, after sending him for scans yesterday, his agent said Hernandez has suffered nothing worse than a "bump" and the player will be back in training after last night's Carling Cup trip to Leeds.

"Nothing, it's just a bump, nothing more," said Eduardo Hernandez. "It looked like [his absence] was longer, they were looking for a fracture, that's why they ran those tests on him. I expect him to be training without incident on Wednesday."

With fears of a long absence allayed, record signing Dimitar Berbatov is now expected to make his first start of the season at Elland Road. The Bulgarian secured a share of the Premier League's Golden Boot last term but has been restricted to just two substitute appearances thus far, the latest as Hernandez's replacement at the weekend.

That's better than Michael Owen has managed. When Sir Alex Ferguson offered Owen a new contract at the end of last season, he knew there would be no guarantees about a first-team slot at Manchester United. With the emergence of Danny Welbeck, the 31-year-old finds himself at number five on the United pecking order. But Owen said he has no regrets. "I understand you cannot be given guarantees in football," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"As last season drew to an end I was 50-50 about what the manager would say when he called me in. If it had gone the other way I wouldn't have been upset... but secretly when he said he wanted me to stay my fist was clenched under the table."