Publications
Partners
Rustenburg - England captain Rio Ferdinand injured his left knee in training on Friday and was rushed to a hospital for a scan, casting a doubt on whether he will be able to play at the World Cup.
The 31-year-old center back was injured in a tackle during England's first full training session in South Africa, barely a week before England's opener against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson, who was cut from the preliminary 30-man squad on Tuesday, has been put on standby as a possible replacement for Ferdinand.
Under FIFA rules, players can be replaced up to the day before the opening game.
"The bad news is in the last moment of the training, Rio suffered a problem with the knee," England coach Fabio Capello said. "He has just gone to hospital for a scan. We hope it will not be so bad an injury but we have Michael Dawson on call.
"It came from a minor tackle during the training. How bad is it? We will have to wait and see."
If Ferdinand is ruled out of the tournament, Matthew Upson or Ledley King, who has chronic knee problems, would likely take his starting spot in central defense alongside John Terry.
Ferdinand had another injury-restricted season for Manchester United. Plagued by a long-standing back problem, the defender was restricted to just 12 starts for United.
Another concern for Capello is the fitness of injury-prone goalkeeper David James, who was unable to train with his teammates at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus and had to work separately in the gym.
James is competing for the starting spot with Robert Green and Joe Hart.
"David James has a little problem with the knee after a long flight," Capello said. "It is not such a big problem."
But there was more positive news regarding Gareth Barry, with the midfielder training for the first time since injuring his right ankle a month ago.
The ligament damage sustained by Barry playing for Manchester City on May 5 made him a doubt for inclusion in the 23-man World Cup squad, but he made the cut after a medical check on Tuesday.
"We have to wait day-by-day to see what happens with the ankle," Capello said. "The work is harder everyday, stronger everyday.
"In the afternoons he trains in the gym with the physio and in the morning with the team ... we have to be careful with every moment and make sure the ankle is really good."
The 31-year-old center back was injured in a tackle during England's first full training session in South Africa, barely a week before England's opener against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson, who was cut from the preliminary 30-man squad on Tuesday, has been put on standby as a possible replacement for Ferdinand.
Under FIFA rules, players can be replaced up to the day before the opening game.
"The bad news is in the last moment of the training, Rio suffered a problem with the knee," England coach Fabio Capello said. "He has just gone to hospital for a scan. We hope it will not be so bad an injury but we have Michael Dawson on call.
"It came from a minor tackle during the training. How bad is it? We will have to wait and see."
If Ferdinand is ruled out of the tournament, Matthew Upson or Ledley King, who has chronic knee problems, would likely take his starting spot in central defense alongside John Terry.
Ferdinand had another injury-restricted season for Manchester United. Plagued by a long-standing back problem, the defender was restricted to just 12 starts for United.
Another concern for Capello is the fitness of injury-prone goalkeeper David James, who was unable to train with his teammates at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus and had to work separately in the gym.
James is competing for the starting spot with Robert Green and Joe Hart.
"David James has a little problem with the knee after a long flight," Capello said. "It is not such a big problem."
But there was more positive news regarding Gareth Barry, with the midfielder training for the first time since injuring his right ankle a month ago.
The ligament damage sustained by Barry playing for Manchester City on May 5 made him a doubt for inclusion in the 23-man World Cup squad, but he made the cut after a medical check on Tuesday.
"We have to wait day-by-day to see what happens with the ankle," Capello said. "The work is harder everyday, stronger everyday.
"In the afternoons he trains in the gym with the physio and in the morning with the team ... we have to be careful with every moment and make sure the ankle is really good."
