Van Gaal says United left-back Shaw could be back 'ahead of schedule'

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw could return from injury sooner than originally expected.

Shaw suffered a double leg fracture during the 2-1 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven in September and underwent surgery in the Netherlands to repair the damage.

The 20-year-old has been making good progress in his rehabilitation and Van Gaal says the signs have been encouraging.

However, Van Gaal refused to put a date on when Shaw could return for United and insisted the England international still needs time in order to fully recover from the injury.

"Shaw was with his surgeon and everything is going well," Van Gaal toldMUTV.

"His bone is growing and that is very positive. He could return ahead of schedule, yes.

"But when I say that, then everybody thinks he is coming back within three months and it is not like that, you cannot say that. He needs time.

"At this moment he is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, but there are also weeks when he is slow."