Neville contemplating coaching

2008-07-14 15:57

Manchester - Manchester United captain Gary Neville is contemplating a coaching career as he continues to attempt a comeback from more than a year out injured.

Neville played just one match last season - a 1-0 win over AS Roma in the Champions League - and has not appeared in the Premier League since March 2007 because of ankle and groin injuries.

Although the 33-year-old defender made the latest step in his comeback when he played the first half of Saturday's 2-0 friendly win over Aberdeen, he is looking at what could happen at the end of the season - when his contract expires.

"I have done my coaching badges in the summer, along with Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer," Neville said. "But although the two weeks were good fun and hard work, it doesn't replace actually playing.

"What it did do was make me think about the fact I hadn't played for more than 12 months and that I've got to make the most of the next season and play for as long as I possibly can."

Neville started at Aberdeen and United manager Alex Ferguson said he was replaced at halftime only as a precaution.

"It is always difficult, when a player has been out for a year, whether to start the second half with him," Ferguson said. "Once he had cooled down, having had injuries, we didn't want to risk it. Gary has come through it, that is the important thing."

- AP