Luke Shaw set to start first-team training at Manchester United next week

Louis van Gaal is set to receive a timely boost as Luke Shaw is due to return to Manchester United training in the next week.

The England international left-back has missed most of the season after suffering a horror leg break during the Champions League trip to PSV Eindhoven.

But Shaw could still feature this season, report the Manchester Evening News.

The 20-year-old travelled to Dubai during the international fortnight and could take a significant step in his recovery from the injury trauma at United's Carrington training base next month.

Shaw expressed his delight at his imminent return to training on Twitter.

He said: "Nice time in Dubai, back to work now. Can't wait."

Van Gaal has set Shaw the target of being fit for the FA Cup final, should United progress that far, as the left-back attempts to salvage a season wrecked by Mexican defender Hector Moreno.

"We are still in three competitions," Van Gaal said after the FA Cup quarter-final draw against West Ham.

"As I said to Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young, you can still play the final."

Shaw was arguably United's standout performer in their first seven games this term before Moreno's brutal tackle at the Philips Stadion.

Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Ashley Young, Joe Riley, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have all filled in at left-back in Shaw's absence.

Shaw has suffered 10 separate injuries since he joined United for £27m from Southampton in 2014.