Rio Ferdinand is expected to be handed a Manchester United start for their Champions League tie at Benfica next week.
The Manchester Evening News says last season's Wembley finalists kick off against Benfica in the Estadio da Luz in the Portuguese capital next Wednesday and Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov are in line for much needed match time.
Ferdinand's hamstring injury suffered at West Brom has opened the door for Phil Jones to put down a marker for the champions and the 32-year-old also had to relinquish his England place while on the sidelines.
He returned as an unused sub in the 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal prior to the international break but a quick comeback has been blocked by the Jones-Jonny Evans axis.
