U.S. ABROAD: Spector joins Manchester United for U.S. tour

American defender Jonathan Spector, 18, will join Manchester United on its three-game tour of the United States for the ChampionsWorld Series.

Spector, who joined United's youth program last year after starring on the U.S. under-17 national team, was called up because United will be without its stars who played at Euro 2004 or have been playing in the Copa America, which concludes this week.

''Last season Darren Fletcher came through on the U.S. tour and hopefully one or two will do the same this year,'' Ferguson told MUTV. ''Jonathan Spector and Phil Bardsey will enjoy it and hopefully it will push their careers on a bit.''

United's second summer in North America will consist of three games — a match against Bayern Munich July 25 in Chicago followed by return trips to Lincoln Financial Stadium in Philadelphia (July 28 against Celtic) and Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (July 31 against AC Milan).