Rio Ferdinand should be fit to face Arsenal in the Champions
League semi-final second leg showdown on Tuesday.
Manchester United expect to get the good news today that
Ferdinand’s rib injury suffered in the first leg on Wednesday is
not as bad as first feared.
The £30m centre-half trudged off the pitch near the end of
United’s 1-0 win over the Gunners worried that his season could be
over.
Ferdinand, who was clutching his ribcage and clearly in a lot of
pain, was taken to hospital for a scan, with worried United manager
Sir Alex Ferguson admitting: “It does not look too good at the
moment.”
But Starsport understands those fears were allayed yesterday,
when key player Ferdinand was released from hospital.
Broken ribs would have meant the England star missing a minimum
three of the last four weeks of the season.
And that would have dealt a serious blow to United’s bid to
become the first club to retain the Premier League and Champions
League trophies.
As it is, Ferdinand will almost certainly be rested for
tomorrow’s trip to Middlesbrough.
But Ferguson is expected to announce today that his talented
defender will be available for the climax to a potentially
record-breaking campaign.