Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Ferdinand's injury riddle keeps him on the fringe
RIO Ferdinand will be out for an indefinite period as the defender's injury continues to puzzle the United medical staff. The Reds are desperately searching for the root of the leg injury that will keep the England defender out of tomorrow's clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It will be his fourth successive match missed with the trouble. The major concern for Ferdinand, who celebrates his 31st birthday today, and United is that the source of the calf problem seems to be his back. Ferdinand was out for nine matches last winter after suffering back spasms in Japan while on FIFA Club World Cup duty with the champions. Having also had a thigh trouble this term, plus this latest mystery, the effects of the injuries have seen the centre-back's form plummet. Fergie admits Ferdinand's lack of progress with his fitness is now a concern. "We don't know exactly where the calf injury is coming from, whether it is a calf injury or whether it is a nerve thing in his lower back," he said. "A calf injury is usually two or three weeks but there is no sign of him recovering from that injury. There is no improvement, put it that way. So we are looking at something different. "We are looking at the whole situation and whether it is coming from the back or not. In the meantime, he is out." Despite the bad news on Ferdinand the other half of Fergie's first choice central defensive partnership Nemanja Vidic will return against Chelsea after missing the last three matches through injury and suspension. Gary Neville is unavailable for the Stamford Bridge trip as he is serving a one-match ban for his red card at Barnsley in the Carling Cup. Ji-sung Park is also still out with a knee injury. United's last visit to Chelsea in September 2008, marked Owen Hargreaves' last match for the Reds before being forced to concede defeat to tendonitis and undergoing two career-saving knee operations. The England midfielder has had a minor setback but is just over a week away from a possible return to full football training with his senior colleagues at Carrington. "Owen is doing very well. He got a little calf strain recently. I think he overdid it one of the days and he had two or three rest days," said Fergie. "But he is back doing his work again. He is doing good football work also with the physios. Hopefully, we can get him back within the next 10 days or so into training but we are not going to force it."
