Source: Daily_Mail
Rio's World Cup fear: Blame it on your back, injury-prone Ferdinand is told
Rio Ferdinand's troubled season has continued ahead of the World Cup with news that the England captain's recent groin injury is directly linked to the back problem thatcontinues to hang heavy over his future in the game. [LNB]In with a shout? Ferdinand's perpetual back has cast doubts over his World Cup[LNB]Manchester United central defender Ferdinand is as reported in Sportsmail yesterday expected to return to Sir Alex Ferguson's team tomorrow as they look to place further pressure on leaders Chelsea with a win over Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League at Old Trafford. [LNB]The groin twinge that the 31-year-old suffered at Blackburn a fortnight ago caused him to miss last weekend's dramatic win at Manchester City but Ferdinand has trained well this week and certainly feels fit enough to return. [LNB]However, the bad news for Ferdinand and indeed for England manager Fabio Capello is that detailed examination of the injury has led medical experts to feel that it is directly linked to the lower back problems that have caused him so much anxiety this season. [LNB]Ferdinand missed a huge chunk of United's winter programme after breaking down two months in to the season and continues to experience twinges and related problems. [LNB]He has already been told by specialists and indeed by Ferguson that he will have to manage his playing schedule carefully once the World Cup is over. [LNB]Gone, he has been told, are the days when he can expect to play every game.[LNB] Patchy: Ferdinand has been exposed this season - none more so than by Fernando Torres during Liverpool's 2-0 win at Anfield in October[LNB]This latest blow, however, has once again thrown a doubt over his readiness for the World Cup and raised questions once again over the wisdom of Capello handing the captaincy to a player he can not even be sure will be fit for every game in South Africa this summer. [LNB]In terms of his ability and his leadership skills, Ferdinand is recognised as the ideal choice to lead England. His fitness, however, continues to cause him real problems.[LNB] Capello puts Tottenham defender Dawson in the World Cup runningHow a night on Barcelona's carousel put Michael Carrick's career in a spinManchester United look to beat rivals City to Nigerian wonderkid Ramon AzeezMANCHESTER UNITED FC
