• Premier League

Ferguson expects Ferdinand to shake off back problem

Rio Ferdinand has missed several games for club and country this season with a back problem © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ferdinand allays fitness fears
  
• News: Rooney confident over fitness
  
• News: Donovan claims Rooney is exhausted
  
• News: Terry determined to be fit for FA Cup final
  

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Rio Ferdinand to shake off his fitness problems at the World Cup this summer.

Ferdinand has suffered with a persistent back problem this season and was out of action for three months from the end of October as well as missing games in April.

With Fabio Capello likely to name Ledley King in his final 23-man squad, there are concerns that England could be left short of centre backs if Ferdinand suffers any further setbacks. However, Ferdinand played in Manchester United's games against Sunderland and Stoke this month and Ferguson believes he will be able to steer clear of injury in South Africa.

"Rio should be okay," Ferguson said. "He's had a spell in the last few weeks where we've nurtured him very closely and not pushed him until we get proper fitness in him. Once you've got that fitness, and he played for us on Sunday, there's no problem."

Three players not included in Capello's 30-man squad this week are Owen Hargreaves, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.

Hargreaves has effectively missed the entire season with injury, limited to just a few seconds as a substitute, while Neville has struggled with form and fitness at times. Scholes, 35, had considered coming out of international retirement for the tournament, but Ferguson says he is unsurprised that the trio are not part of the squad.

"Owen has not had enough football so you couldn't honestly pick him. That's straightforward. Gary has had injury problems over the last few years and I'm sure Fabio has taken that into consideration and he's well covered.

"Paul made his decision years ago. I think Fabio did the right thing to give him the opportunity to come back but he's established with his family, he enjoys his family life and I don't think it was a goer. He spoke to me and I told him to go with his gut instinct, and his gut instinct was to stay where he was."

England should at least call be able to call on Wayne Rooney, and Ferguson feels Capello may think about using him as a lone striker in the tournament.

"Looking at the strikers in the world today, Wayne is up there with all of them. Opponents will not be looking forward to playing against him, they'll be worrying about that because he's such a dynamic personality and player.

"The challenge that Fabio's got is, he could play with anyone, but he can also play himself which is an advantage. There are very few players who can do both. We've done it many times ourselves, playing him on his own because he's got such energy to cover the ground and the speed and power to play against the best."

Ferguson was presented with the Virgin Active Outstanding Contribution to British Sport Award at the Sport Industry Awards 2010 on Thursday, receiving the trophy from Capello.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.