Ferdinand handed United debut

Rio Ferdinand was handed his Manchester United debut tonight as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side attempted to stave off Champions League humiliation.

The world’s most expensive defender has missed the first three competitive matches of United’s campaign after suffering an ankle injury in the pre-season friendly with Boca Juniors on August 10.

Ferguson admitted yesterday he was tempted to play the former Leeds skipper – and knowing his team could not afford to concede an early away goal to the Hungarian champions, opted to plunge Ferdinand straight in at the expense of Irish international John O’Shea.