Rio sits out Shakhtar trip

London - Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has been excused from his side's Champions League match away to Shakhtar Donetsk due to injury, manager David Moyes revealed on Tuesday.

Moyes said that the 34-year-old had sustained a groin strain, but added that he would not have been named in the squad for Wednesday's Group A game at the Donbass Arena anyway.

"Rio has a slight groin problem," said Moyes.

"It is nothing serious, but I was never bringing him anyway."

Moyes revealed that Anderson, Fabio da Silva and Wilfried Zaha had also been omitted from the United squad for the game.

United won 4-2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in their opening group game, while Ukrainian champions Shakhtar won 2-0 away to Real Sociedad.