However, the England defender returned to training this morning and Ferguson does not expect a reaction, with John O’Shea also in line for a starting berth after shrugging off a heel problem.

“They are both fit and they will both play,” said the United manager.

“They both trained for the first time this morning and that was important for us.”

Ferdinand should partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence, with O’Shea filling the right-back slot.

Although long-term casualties Gary Neville and Wes Brown remain absent, along with Rafael da Silva, the remainder of Ferguson’s squad are available for selection.

The holders are favourites to go through, although Ferguson must end a disappointing sequence of results against Mourinho, having won only once in 13 encounters with the former Chelsea and Porto manager.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Eckersley, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Park, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck.