• England football

Ferdinand remains in England frame

Harry Harris, ESPNsoccernet correspondent
October 7, 2011
Rio Ferdinand is on the comeback trail after suffering a hamstring injury in August © Getty Images
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Fabio Capello has reassured former England captain Rio Ferdinand that he remains in the international reckoning.

Ferdinand, who turns 33 next month, has been excluded from the England squad for the crucial qualifier in Montenegro on Friday and doubts have been raised in the media as to whether he will return.

ESPNsoccernet sources in the England camp, though, insist that he was under consideration for the trip to Podgorica and it is simply a case of Ferdinand proving his form and, more significantly, fitness at Manchester United.

"At the moment it is difficult to judge Rio's fitness because he has only been back for one game and naturally didn't look sharp," the source said. "We also have some good players in that position and we felt there was no reason to drop those players out of the squad."

Although Ferdinand looks certain to remain in Capello's thinking should England qualify for Euro 2012, he has been warned that the situation regarding his international future would be "very different" if he opted to go to America or the Middle East.

Any such move appears unlikely, though, as sources close to Ferdinand made clear to ESPNsoccernet earlier this week that the defender wants to see out the remaining two years of his contract at Old Trafford.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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