Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has made a shock early return to training, according to The Sun.

The England international forward suffered a deep gash on his leg in the Red Devils' 3-2 win over Fulham in the Premier League, and was expected to be sidelined for two months whilst the cut healed.

However, it is believed that the talented attacker has been back in light training with the Old Trafford side for the last five days, which has involved outdoor sessions and gym work.

Rooney has been wearing a protective cover over the cut to avoid infection, and is said to be making stellar progress ahead of time.

It is believed that there is an outside chance that Rooney could be on the bench for United's Champions League clash with Galatasaray on Wednesday night, and that he could well be ready to return to action against Liverpool domestically on Sunday.

By Gareth McKnight