Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing to let £35million new arrivals Owen Hargreaves and Anderson loose over the next 72 hours as their pre-season campaign steps up a pace.

Hargreaves spent the entire Far East tour as a frustrated spectator as he struggled to overcome a minor ankle injury he aggravated in training.

Meanwhile, Anderson only started training at Carrington this week after spending his summer on Copa America duty with Brazil.

But, in the aftermath of Wednesday night's 3-2 friendly defeat to Inter Milan at Old Trafford, Ferguson confirmed both men would play some part in United's next two friendlies; at Doncaster on Friday and Peterborough 24 hours later.

"Owen Hargreaves and Anderson will be involved over the next couple of games," said Ferguson.

Neither player is expected to play any part in Sunday's Community Shield showdown with Chelsea at Wembley but, provided they come through their forthcoming tests unscathed, and a likely appearance at either Dunfermline or Glentoran next Wednesday, both should be in Ferguson's squad when United open the defence of their Premier League title against Reading on August 12.