The News Of The World have had a statement from a Man United ‘insider’, who claims that defender Rio Ferdinand could be out for up to eight weeks. Ferdinand has struggled with a back injury ever since last season’s Champion’s League game against Porto.

It has been obvious that there is something wrong with Ferdinand; he hasn’t quite been himself and if that is down to an injury then hopefully that can be sorted.

Ferdinand will want to play as much for United so he can be ready for England next summer for the 2010 World Cup. The sooner this is sorted, the better.

The ‘insider’ said: "All Rio wants to do is play pain free.

"This injury first flared up before United's Champions League quarter-final against Porto last season and it has gradually got worse.

"Now the problem has been identified and needs to be cured, whether it takes two, four, six or eight weeks."