Rio Ferdinand is set to make his debut for Manchester United on Saturday in a friendly against Bournemouth.

Ferdinand, who became the world's most expensive defender after his �30m move from Leeds United, has been included in a 15-man squad to face the Third Division club.

The match is set to be played in front of a sell-out 8,200 crowd at Dean Court.

The England defender is expected to play at least some part in the testimonial for Bournemouth manager Mel Machin.

Machin gave Ferdinand his first-team debut when he was on loan from West Ham in 1996.

Rio was not originally in the travelling party for the match, but asked Sir Alex Ferguson whether he could play.

He is expected to play alongside Roy Carroll, Mikael Silvestre, Dwight Yorke, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and John O'Shea - who returns to the club at which he spent time on loan a couple of seasons ago.