Ferguson expects Park to stay on at Man United

Speaking at a news conference in Chicago, where United will face Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire in a friendly at Soldier Field on Saturday, Ferguson said Park has been offered a new deal and is certain he will sign.

"He has been offered a new contract, yes," Ferguson said. "I'm sure he'll sign it. His career at United has been nothing but excellent, a tremendous professional.

"And I'm sure he'll accept the new offer, and tie himself to the club for the next two years."

Park, who joined the English Premier League giants in July 2005, scored a goal in United's 7-0 friendly rout of the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.

Ferguson and his team had spent almost a week in Seattle, training at the facilities of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks before playing the Sounders of MLS.

After the moderate summer weather of the US northwest, arriving to the heatwave that is gripping America's midwest was something of a shock.

Temperatures were hovering near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (above 37 degrees Celsius) as the team arrived at their hotel.

Ferguson said the conditions will test his players on Saturday.

"We've come from the nice, cool atmosphere in Seattle to a furnace," he said.

Fire interim coach Frank Klopas joked that he was going to find a way to turn up the heat even more for Saturday's game.

"I think I'll just stay in the hotel, then," Ferguson quipped.

If the heat and humidity keep up, Ferguson said he might make changes to the team's training session on Friday as well as his substitution strategy during Saturday's game at the home of the NFL's Chicago Bears.

"In the game itself, we'll have to make the appropriate changes," Ferguson said. "Probably quite a few at halftime, and some beyond in the second half."

Ferguson said he and his players are enjoying their US tour.

"So far, the atmosphere of the stadiums has been fantastic," he said.

"Yesterday in Seattle was absolutely wonderful. The great thing for me was supporters mixing with one another. It was a throwback to the old days, really. Now we have segregation (between home and away fans) in English grounds, which makes a total difference."