Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has revealed that "everything is going well" in relation to Luke Shaw's recovery from a broken leg.
The England international has been on the sidelines since suffering a double fracture during his side's Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven in September.
It had initially been thought that the left-back would not return this season, but Van Gaal has claimed that the 20-year-old is on the right track.
"Shaw was with his surgeon and everything is going well," Van Gaal told MUTV. "His bone is growing and that is very positive. He could return ahead of schedule, yes.
"But when I say that, then everybody thinks he is coming back within three months and it is not like that, you cannot say that. He needs time. At this moment he is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, but there are also weeks when he is slow."
Man United have struggled to replace Shaw at left-back, with Marcos Rojo also having his injury problems this season.