Rio Ferdinand insists he will be fully fit for the World Cup
Published 22:45 13/03/10 By Simon Mullock
Rio Ferdinand is ready to lead England at the World Cup after insisting he has found a cure for the back problems that have blighted his season.
The Manchester United defender was handed the captaincy of his country following John Terry’s fall from grace.
But he failed to pick up the armband when injury prompted him to drop out of the squad to face Egypt at Wembley earlier this month.
That promped fears that he will not make it through a gruelling campaign in South Africa in the summer.
Even Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that Ferdinand will have to be nursed through the rest of the season at the age of 31.
But Ferdinand said: “I am feeling very good about my fitness at the moment.
“I am really confident that the back problem won’t flare up again because I do lots of my training in the rehab room these days and I am doing loads of work that will prevent the injury from returning.
“I really think I have got my finger on the pulse as far as the injury is concerned.
“It’s just nice to be playing for United again. That’s where my priority is at the moment and the England situation will look after itself. I have just come through two games in four days without any reaction.
“The truth is that over the previous couple of months I couldn’t even think about playing once a week.
“I have never had to sit and watch the team play since I have been a professional, so it has been very frustrating.
“But I am over it now. I am older and wiser and I just want to get on with my career.”
But while one England captain is certain he will be going to the World Cup, a former skipper isn’t so sure about his place in Fabio Capello’s plans.
David Beckham has admitted for the first time that he fears for his dream of playing in a fourth successive finals. The former United and Real Madrid winger has seen his international career resurrected under Capello and, with 115 appearances, he is England’s most-capped outfield player.
His cameo role for AC Milan in the 4-0 defeat by United at Old Trafford was watched by the England coach.
But Beckham said: “I’m not guaranteed to go to South Africa, not at all. I have to keep working hard and hopefully that will be enough to win a place.
“There are a few months left yet before the squad is announced and hopefully I can carry on playing well.
“But at the moment I am certainly not banking on being there.”
