A
cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in September was supposed to
rule Manchester United full-back Mikael Silvestre out for
the rest of the season.
The Frenchman, though,
defied specialists to play in the Champions League quarter-final
second leg clash against Roma in midweek, coming through without
any reaction.
Now, the 30-year-old has
made it clear that he wants to force his way into the Red Devils’
starting XI – with compatriot Patrice Evra standing in his way at
the first-choice left-back.
"Let's say that the coach
offered me a gift, even if it could have been seen as a poisonous
gift," Silvestre told L'Equipe. "But I felt
ready.
"And European football is
better that a Premier League game to return, because in
England
it goes in all
directions.
"We will see what is going
to happen in the next games. We do not know. It permitted Evra to
rest - he was a bit tired.
"Pat has advance on me
because he was on his own at the position. We started with a
rotation at the start of the season or we could even have played
together: me behind, him at midfield.
"We will
see. But I think the coach is delighted to see me. And I can bring
a lot to the team."
Competition for places is
good! 
