Gary Neville admits he is no 'super sub' - but the Manchester United captain is happy on the bench rather than not being involved at all.
Neville is expected to be back in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting line-up at Blackburn on Saturday after he missed Tuesday's Champions League win in Aalborg.
After virtually 15 months on the sidelines with injury, Ferguson is taking a safety-first approach to the 33-year-old's fitness and will not ask Neville to play two games a week unless it is an emergency.
It is a policy Neville is in broad agreement with, particularly because the new rule allowing Premier League clubs to have seven substitutes, as is the case in Europe, gives players more opportunity to feel part of the action.
"It is much better to have seven substitutes," said Neville.
"Nowadays clubs can have up to 22 players in their squads with most of them travelling to games but up until this season, six of them would not even make the bench.
"At least if you are on the bench you feel part of it and there is a chance you might get on.
"That is the worst thing about being out injured. You feel like you are not contributing.
"I am not a great sub. I am hardly going to come on and change a game. But it is great to be back travelling with the lads and feeling part of it again."
Neville is facing a new challenger for his place in the United side following Rafael da Silva's superb performance in Denmark having been preferred to Wes Brown.
The injury Rafael picked up midway through the second half of the Red Devils' three-goal triumph should offer the veteran England man an immediate recall.
Elsewhere, Ferguson has selection concerns to contend with as Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes are all missing.
The United boss can choose from Anderson, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea to fill the central midfield slots, although the option of playing Ryan Giggs in a deeper role must be tempting given the Welshman's impressive performance as Scholes' replacement in Denmark.
Wayne Rooney also seems certain to miss out, which would mean Carlos Tevez partnering record signing Dimitar Berbatov in attack.
Rooney limped out of the Aalborg win with an ankle injury which Ferguson felt would make his in-form forward a doubt for this weekend, although there has been no official word on his condition since.
After virtually 15 months on the sidelines with injury, Ferguson is taking a safety-first approach to the 33-year-old's fitness and will not ask Neville to play two games a week unless it is an emergency.
It is a policy Neville is in broad agreement with, particularly because the new rule allowing Premier League clubs to have seven substitutes, as is the case in Europe, gives players more opportunity to feel part of the action.
"It is much better to have seven substitutes," said Neville.
"Nowadays clubs can have up to 22 players in their squads with most of them travelling to games but up until this season, six of them would not even make the bench.
"At least if you are on the bench you feel part of it and there is a chance you might get on.
"That is the worst thing about being out injured. You feel like you are not contributing.
"I am not a great sub. I am hardly going to come on and change a game. But it is great to be back travelling with the lads and feeling part of it again."
Neville is facing a new challenger for his place in the United side following Rafael da Silva's superb performance in Denmark having been preferred to Wes Brown.
The injury Rafael picked up midway through the second half of the Red Devils' three-goal triumph should offer the veteran England man an immediate recall.
Elsewhere, Ferguson has selection concerns to contend with as Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes are all missing.
The United boss can choose from Anderson, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea to fill the central midfield slots, although the option of playing Ryan Giggs in a deeper role must be tempting given the Welshman's impressive performance as Scholes' replacement in Denmark.
Wayne Rooney also seems certain to miss out, which would mean Carlos Tevez partnering record signing Dimitar Berbatov in attack.
Rooney limped out of the Aalborg win with an ankle injury which Ferguson felt would make his in-form forward a doubt for this weekend, although there has been no official word on his condition since.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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