Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston believes he could be seeing one of the last testimonial games at East End Park when a Manchester United XI travel north to honour Scott Thomson.

Thomson, 35, who joined Dunfermline from Raith Rovers back in 1998, kick-starts his benefit year on Tuesday with a game against the English giants managed by former Pars favourite Sir Alex Ferguson.

Yorkston told PA Sport that although Thomson was fully deserving of the occasion, testimonials are likely be rare occurrences in the future.

He said: "Getting Manchester United is a real coup for Scott and the stadium is heading for a sell-out of around 11,500.

"It's a great boost for him and he thoroughly deserves it.

"Andy Tod had a testimonial last season although that was for two separate spells at the club.

"But generally speaking, it is unusual these days for players to qualify for testimonials.

"The way things are going with transfers, you see fewer players staying at one club for a long time.

"Scott has done a great job for us. He's an Aberdeen boy but he has settled in to the club well and he has become a great ambassador for Dunfermline."

Yorkston revealed Ferguson's affection for the Fife club led to him agreeing to send a United side north in the week leading up to the start of the Barclays Premiership campaign.

Ferguson joined Dunfermline from St Johnstone at the start of the 1964-65 season and was transferred to Rangers in the summer of 1967 for £60,000 - then a record fee between two Scottish clubs.

The United boss still ranks fifth in all-time scorers for Dunfermline, with 91 goals for the Pars including six in Europe.

Yorkston said: "Sir Alex is friendly with a number of people in the Dunfermline area and they approached him to bring a team up here for Scott's game.

"It was a nice gesture by Sir Alex - although he had always threatened to come back and give us a beating!

"The Manchester United squad isn't finalised yet but we were told that a number of big names will be coming up so it will be great for the fans to see players like Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves."