FERDINAND TARGETS SWIFT RETURN
Rio Ferdinand is confident he will be fit for Manchester
United's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on
Saturday. The £29.1million defender limped out of the FA Cup
semi-final win over Watford with a groin injury and will have a
scan on Sunday to assess the full extent of the
problem.
With Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre
currently sidelined as well, United's resources are being stretched
to breaking point. Darren Fletcher finished the 4-1 Villa Park win
as a makeshift right-back, with Gabriel Heinze alongside Wes Brown
in central defence.
With only Youth Cup star Craig Cathcart as an alternative, United
will desperately hope Ferdinand's injury is only as minor as the
defender believes. "I don't know about Tuesday (against Sheffield
United) but think I should be all right for Saturday," he
said.
"It was the semi-final of the FA Cup, so I was disappointed to come
off. "I will speak to the physios about the injury, and I will
obviously know more next week, but hopefully it is not too
bad."
"Once we knew the final was going to be played at Wembley, we
wanted to get there even more," he added. "It has a great history.
To be the first to play there will be phenomenal. Hopefully, we can
go there and win.
"All that was important today was winning. The performance was
secondary. "We were disappointed to concede a goal but the response
we are getting at the moment to conceding goals is more important
than anything."
