Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has had an
injection in an attempt to ease his long-standing back complaint
but manager Sir Alex Ferguson says
there is still "no light" at the end of the tunnel for the injured
centre-back.
Ferdinand has been out of action since the end of October, and
although Ferguson played down fears of a long-term absence at the
time, the 30-year-old has now missed 13 games, plus England's
friendly defeat to Brazil in Qatar.
Ferguson still can't put a timescale in place for the
centre-back's return and said: "We gave Rio an injection just over
two weeks ago so we have to let that settle for a week then he can
go back into the gym work and do some more core work. We are just
hoping that pain goes away.
"There is no light at the end of the tunnel and it is difficult
to put a timescale on a back injury. But I don't think he is too
far away."
At the launch of his new charitable Foundation last week,
Ferdinand insisted his place at next summer's World Cup in South
Africa was not in jeopardy. It was an important statement, not only
in terms of a health bulletin but also the positive attitude it
betrayed.
Yet, as the Premier League season straddles its halfway point
over the Christmas period, more important matches are looming. And
Ferguson knows his £29.1million defender will want to be part of
them.
"Rio is quite a composed and laid-back lad," said Ferguson. "He
has never shown any effect of the injury from a mental standpoint.
But I have no doubt he will be feeling it because he is a
footballer and footballers want to play.
"He will be thinking about all sorts. The run-in to the league
and important games coming up and he is missing them. It is not
easy for him."