Ferguson has already confirmed that no matter what the outcome of today’s case, Ferdinand will be in his squad to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

“It is my intention to play him,” said the United boss.

“It is not ideal preparation but hopefully he has the temperament to handle it.

“He will have a training session tomorrow because obviously he has not trained at all yesterday or today. That is the only concern.”

As Ferguson was arriving, Eyal Berkovic was leaving. The Manchester City midfielder had spent almost an hour in the stadium, where it was believed he offered an insight into the September 23 afternoon when Ferdinand was supposed to supply a urine sample to UK Sport officials at United’s Carrington training ground.

Berkovic was with his former West Ham team-mate in central Manchester when Ferdinand took a call reminding him that he was supposed to take the test.

The defender has claimed he simply forgot and offered to return to Carrington. This offer was turned down as only one tester remained on site and the temporary laboratory had been disassembled.

Nicky Butt – one of the three players who did take the test as required on September 23 – also arrived to speak on his team-mate’s behalf.

Another key witness in today’s second-day proceedings was Dr Mike Stone, the head of United’s medical team, the man who is believed to have informed Ferdinand of the need to take his test.

Stone spent two-and-a-half hours giving his version of what happened that fateful day and his evidence may well hold Ferdinand’s fate in his hands.

Apart from pointing to a previously unblemished record in drugs tests, and then the negative test he provided on September 25, the player’s own legal team, headed by Ronald Thwaites QC, are also expected to attack UK Sport’s procedures.

And, even if the verdict goes against his man, Thwaites will point to the relatively minor £2,000 fine imposed on Christian Negouai for a similar offence earlier in the year and argue it should be used as precedent.

Ferdinand was among the first to arrive this morning, 30 minutes before the scheduled 9am start, making his entrance unobserved through the Bolton Supporters’ Club shop.

Written submissions have also been received from Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who stands to lose one of his key men for Euro 2004 should any suspension extend beyond the anticipated three months.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor was also among the other early arrivals today, although he was acting purely as an observer for the most high-profile hearing the FA have had to deal with since Eric Cantona launched himself into the crowd at Selhurst Park eight years ago.

That move landed the controversial Frenchman with a nine-month ban and some observers claim a similar sentence should apply this time.

However, the FA have already admitted there is no automatic penalty written into their statutes and having taken three months to get the hearing set up in the first place, face certain criticism no matter which way the decision goes.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already indicated his intention to intervene should the punishment not be severe enough.