Foster, therefore, will be between the sticks for the match against the Premier League's basement side at Pride Park on Saturday despite having played only one reserve team match this season because of the knee surgery he underwent last summer.
"Edwin misses the game, so it's a debut for Ben Foster," manager Sir Alex Ferguson told the club's official website.
"I had planned to send him out on loan. But Edwin is injured and Tomasz Kuszczak is suspended.
"Having been out for the best part of a year and with only one reserves game behind him, it's a big challenge for Ben. But I have no fears that he will be OK.
"What encourages me is that he has got fantastic presence, speed and agility.
"His rehabilitation went completely as planned and he's been in full training for about a month so there are no question marks over his fitness. What we can't tell is how match sharp he is.
"He's only had one game. But his assets give me confidence he'll do well."