Manchester City star Joey Barton is Ballymena bound

Stuart Pearce will bring his first-team squad, including Andy Cole and Joey Barton, over for the game at the Showgrounds on Tuesday, 29 August.

United boss Tommy Wright was with City seven years ago when the friendly was agreed as part of the Richard McKinney transfer deal.

Ballymena's CIS Cup game with Portadown has been moved to Thursday, 31 August.

Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Wright and Pearce were team-mates at Nottingham Forest over a decade ago.

Wright discussed the possibility of arranging a game with the City manager in March when he was on a coaching course in England.

Pearce was unaware of the agreement made in 1999 but has since arranged for the fixture to be part of a three to four day training camp in Northern Ireland.