Fergie relying on ‘fit’ Ferdinand for match against rivals Liverpool
March 3rd, 2011 - 6:38 pm ICT by ANI
London, Mar 3 (ANI): Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will give Rio Ferdinand until Saturday to prove his fitness for match against bitter rivals Liverpool.
Ferguson is set to provide key defender Ferdinand with every chance to make the game, despite writing him off in public.
“Rio won’t be fit, Wes Brown will take over. He has great experience,” Ferguson had told United TV channel MUTV.
But Ferdinand, who has missed the last six games with a calf injury, trained at Carrington yesterday alongside Jonny Evans, The Sun reports.
Ferguson will not gamble if he feels there is a risk of further injury, as he is woefully light at centre-back following skipper Nemanja Vidic’s red card at Chelsea.
John O’Shea is favourite to partner Chris Smalling in the heart of defence if neither Ferdinand nor Evans gets the all-clear, with Rafael replacing the Irishman at right-back.
United is currently four points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, while sixth-placed Liverpool are a massive 21 points off the pace. (ANI)
- Man U to bid for ex-England star Campbell - Dec 09, 2009
- Manchester United defender Evans sidelined for two weeks - Dec 27, 2011
- No major additions to Man U squad: Fergie - Jan 01, 2010
- Rio and me will bounce back soon, says Man U's Vidic - Nov 18, 2009
- Man U's Ferdinand says he will be ready for Champions League final - May 21, 2009
- Insulted Tevez now convinced about quitting Man U - May 22, 2009
- Ferguson terms Liverpool ace Torres a cheat - Sep 20, 2010
- England's quartet lead charge in Champions League - Mar 10, 2009
- Fergie says Rio Ferdinand will not be Man U captain - Sep 18, 2010
- Defenders key to Man U's Champions League dream - Mar 29, 2010
- Premier League slipped away from Man U, admits Fergie - Apr 12, 2010
- No Premier League title let-up for Man U, assures Ferguson - Mar 22, 2010
- Man U youngsters not upto scratch: Ex-full-back - Dec 02, 2010
- Ferguson's overhaul plan puts greats under scrutiny - Nov 22, 2009
- Man U 'retains' Vidic with whopping 18-mn pound deal - Jul 24, 2010
Tags: alex ferguson, bitter rivals, calf injury, carrington, chelsea, four points, irishman, john o shea, key defender, liverpool, manchester united, mutv, rio ferdinand, sir alex ferguson, six games, skipper, tv channel, united tv, vidic, wes brown