Tevez Almost Ready

"Carlos trained with us on Friday and Saturday and did particularly well. He still has a bit to do but he will play either in Belfast or Dunfermline, and after that it is difficult to say. We will have to wait until Wednesday and see how he is.

"But we were surprised at how well he did on Friday, because he looked quite sharp. It would be nice to think we could have him for the Reading game, but if not maybe the following week."

Ferguson is eager to pair him with Wayne Rooney and dismisses suggestions the two players are too similar.

"I can see him and Wayne clicking quickly. There are opinions that the two of them are almost identical, but I don't think they are - apart from the fact they have similar physiques, both are two-footed and quickish, and both can beat a man," he said.

"When they get playing with each other they will get an understanding about where each other plays.

"Carlos now has the experience of being in the Premier League for nearly a year, and he has shown he can be one of the top strikers in the world.

"He has something exceptional and we experienced it in that last game of last season at Old Trafford, when he was a real handful."

Ryan Giggs is pleased about the arrival of Tevez.

"I'm really excited about Tevez," Giggs told MUTV.

"He trained with us on Friday and fitted in straight away. He's a quality player - we saw that towards the end of last season with West Ham - and he'll give us that extra dimension.

"We've got plenty of attacking options this year and it keeps all the players on their toes."