Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has set a date that he wants to return to action for the club.

The Argentina international has been out of action since April after suffering knee ligament damage, and it was believed that we wouldn’t see the centre back again until at least 2018.

However, the tough-tackling defender says he is aiming to return to first team action very soon, and wants to play a part in his side’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow.

Rojo was a regular starter under Jose Mourinho up until his injury, and the game against CSKA would be a good fixture to get him back into the swing of things – with the Red Devils having almost certainly qualified for the knockout round.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday) I am going to play with the reserves in a friendly match,” Rojo told TyC Sports. “I feel good. Up until now, I have not had any problems but training is not the same as a match.

“In three weeks we have a Champions League game and if all goes well tomorrow, I could play in that.”

His 8 month absence has seen the likes of Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and new signing Victor Lindelof in the centre of defence trying to hold the position down. Even academy product Axel Tuanzebe has had a sight of the position, but no one has really made it their own.

It means that Rojo has a great chance to stake his claim over the busy Christmas period, and the player himself admits he wants to cement a place in Mourinho’s team in order to secure his place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“I have to win my place back in the team so that (Argentina) coach Jorge Sampaoli considers me for the World Cup,” Rojo added.

“I have been out a while but I am determined to get back into the national team. I want to show Sampaoli how good I am.”