Rio ready for United return

Rio Ferdinand will make his Manchester United comeback against Hull on Saturday.

The England centre-back, 30, has not featured since the defeat at Liverpool on October 25 with a back complaint.

Ferdinand's condition has improved markedly over the last three weeks and United boss Ferguson he is ready to return.

Ferguson said: "Rio has been training very well in the last few weeks. He will play tomorrow.

"This is the time to bring him back. We have gone through the whole situation with him in terms of enough training and endurance work.

"It is a big boost because the defence has been the weakest part of our game this season.

"At various times we have lost Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, John O'Shea.

"It has been a rough time, so to get them back can only be good for us."

Dimitar Berbatov will also be available tomorrow after recovering from a dead leg.

But Ferguson confirmed Nemanja Vidic was still a fortnight away from recovering from a calf complaint, while John O'Shea is out for the rest of the season.