Football

Gary Neville and Michael Carrick will be part of Manchester United's squad to face Portsmouth despite being less than fully fit.

The England duo both sat out training earlier this week, Neville with a calf strain and Carrick after picking up a bug in Nigeria.

But, with time running out before the Premier League champions begin their title defence against Newcastle on August 17, Ferguson intends to give both men, plus Nani, who will be suspended for the Magpies clash, some valuable game time at Wembley.

"They need some minutes on the clock before the start of the season," said Ferguson.

"The Community Shield is a prestigious match but I have used players in it who were not quite fit and we are more or less in the same situation again."

Among the players who will not be considered is Wayne Rooney, who returned to training on Friday after suffering the same virus as Carrick, although Ferguson accepts it will be a "big job" to get him fit to face Newcastle.

Owen Hargreaves is looking at the meeting with Portsmouth at Fratton Park the following week after having injections in his knee to cure a tendinitis problem, while Ben Foster has suffered some swelling in his knee which will keep him on the sidelines.

"You can suffer this kind of thing from time to time when you have had a cruciate operation," said Ferguson of the England keeper.

"We are trying to manage the swelling but he is not ready to take part in any games. It is unfortunate for the lad because he was looking forward to the new season."

United's fitness worries are also a concern for England coach Fabio Capello, who could find himself deprived of five players for the friendly with the Czech Republic on August 20.