A report has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson is confident of taking his place in the directors' box for Manchester United's opening game of the new Premier League season.

In May, the legendary Red Devils manager underwent emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage and spent several days in intensive care before continuing his recovery in hospital.

According to The Sun, Ferguson - who was released in early June and has spent the past month recuperating at his Cheshire home - is believed to be hopeful of making the home game against Leicester City on August 10.

"Alex absolutely dodged a bullet," the newspaper quotes a source as saying. "He feels incredibly grateful to still be around. Doctors told him he's statistically extremely lucky to be alive. At one point things weren't looking good at all.

"Since being back at home, he's been cheered by those closest to him — with the World Cup playing in the background. Alex was cheering on Cristiano Ronaldo, certainly more so than England!

"He's not entirely out of the woods just yet, but everyone is very hopeful he'll be back to full health soon."

Ferguson recorded 895 wins from 1,500 matches in charge during his 27 years in the dugout at United.