English Premier Leaguer Park Ji-sung will return to the field as early as Wednesday when his Manchester United team is scheduled to play Sunderland.

A team spokesman quoted manager Alex Ferguson as saying Park will play either in the Sunderland match or the one against Birmingham next Tuesday.

Ferguson added that it was a strategic decision not to send in the South Korean midfielder, dismissing speculation that it had to do with his physical condition.

Park has been sidelined since the spring with a knee injury. He underwent surgery in April.