RIO FERDINAND will miss crucial games in Manchester
Uniteds run-in and is a worry for Englands Euro 2008 double
header with a cracked rib. The defender is set to be sidelined for
Uniteds next two games Bolton at home tomorrow and Mondays FA
Cup quarter-final replay with Middlesbrough at Old
Trafford.
England coach Steve McClaren will also be sweating on his fitness
for the Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Andorra the following
week. United are unlikely to release Ferdinand for international
duty if he misses both their matches. It is the latest blow in an
injury crisis that threatens to derail Uniteds Treble bid.
Ferdinand, 28, suffered the rib problem in Uniteds 2-2 FA Cup draw
with Boro on Saturday. And he missed their charity game against a
European XI at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Boss Alex Ferguson will
draft in Wes Brown as cover for Ferdinand.
As SunSport revealed on Wednesday, United will be without Mikael
Silvestre for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder.
Keeper Edwin van der Sar is out for a fortnight with a calf injury,
while strikers Ole Solskjaer and Louis Saha will not be fit until
at least the end of this month.
Hitman Henrik Larsson has returned to Sweden after a three-month
loan spell and midfielder Paul Scholes is banned for the next two
games. Fergie is already under immense pressure after Chelsea
closed the gap at the top to just six points with victory at
Manchester City on Wednesday.
As United lose key players, the Blues were boosted by the return of
skipper John Terry. Meanwhile, former United striker Diego Forlan
has urged winger Cristiano Ronaldo to quit Old Trafford for
Barcelona.
United want to tie the Portuguese maestro, 22, to a new long-term
deal. But Uruguay ace Forlan, who plays in Spain with Villarreal,
said: If Barca make him a good offer he will have no doubts about
accepting it. He knows this league is one of the best in the
world.
