Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa will return to full-blown training next week, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
"Kagawa takes training with the first team on Monday," Ferguson said ahead of United's Premier League game at Swansea on Sunday.
Kagawa has been out of action since late October with a knee injury, and Ferguson had said the Japanese international would resume training earlier this week.
United is at home to Newcastle in the league on Boxing Day as well as on Dec. 29 to West Bromwich Albion.
Japan's first match of 2013 will be on Feb. 6, a friendly in Kobe against Latvia.