Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects new signing Zoran Tosic to be immediately challenging for a first team place when he arrives in January.

Partizan Belgrade winger Tosic, a left-sided player who is described on United's website as a "renowned dead-ball specialist", was granted a work permit on Friday, with Ferguson making a personal plea at the hearing in Sheffield.

Ferguson told the hearing that Tosic, a Serbia team-mate of Nemanja Vidic, is a player of outstanding potential who will challenge for a first-team place immediately.