Wanderers may get a glimpse of the next Cristiano Ronaldo when they kick off their mini-tour of Portugal tonight.

Sam Allardyce's side face Sporting Lisbon this evening in the first of two friendlies in two days as part of their pre-season programme.

It was the club where Portuguese teenager Ronaldo made his name before moving to Manchester United for £12.4m last summer.

And Sporting are likely to blood some more of their talented youngsters tonight as they bid to start afresh after the disappointment of missing out on Champions League qualification at the end of last season.

They were set to finish runners-up to Champions League winners Porto until a late slump saw them lose three of their last four matches and slip to third, behind city rivals Benfica.

That late slide cost coach Fernando Santos his job, and he has been replaced by former Real Madrid assistant boss Jose Peseiro.

A relative unknown on the international stage, Peseiro was understudy to Carlos Queiroz at the Bernabeu last season, and has been handed the task of restoring Sporting's fortunes as they bid to recapture the Portuguese Superliga title they last won in 2002.

Peseiro has taken on a team which provided three players for Portugal's Euro 2004 squad - defenders Rui Jorge and Bete Severo, and goalkeeper Ricardo, who saved and then scored a penalty to dump England out of the tournament.

But all three players could be rested following their Euro 2004 exertions, while Sporting's danger man - Brazilian midfielder Liedson - is a doubt with a thigh injury.

Veteran Portuguese international striker Joao Pinto, who failed to hit the heights last season, has been given a free transfer.

That could give Sporting's fringe players a chance to shine, with particular excitement surrounding teenage strikers Yannick Djalo and Carlos Saleiro, who have impressed in the club's junior and reserve sides.

Tonight's game was originally agreed last summer as part of the deal which brought Mario Jardel from Lisbon to the Reebok.

It will take place in Rio Major, 70km north of Lisbon, to allow repair work to be carried out on the pitch at Sporting's Estadio Jose Alvalade - the famous stadium that hosted five matches during Euro 2004.

Wanderers will then travel to take on newly-promoted Superliga side Vitoria Setubal at the 30,000-capacity Estadio Do Bonfirm tomorrow (8pm).

Setubal regained their Superliga place, following relegation in 2003, by finishing runners-up to Second Division champions Estoril.

The club proved a launching pad for the career of Portugal right-back Paulo Ferreira, who has just agreed a deal to join Chelsea from Porto.