September
02

Rio Ferdinand has been declared fit after completing a 45-minute run-out in Man United’s reserves last night. Ferdinand, who had been ruled out of England’s World Cup campaign with knee ligament damage – the latest in a line of recent niggles – proved his fitness in the 2-1 win over Oldham.

Reserve team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave us more details on Rio’s road to recovery…

“It is a while since he has played but he was still calm…He has got through an important 45 minutes, straight after two very hard training sessions yesterday and the day before so we are delighted with him.”

The one time “fox in the box” striker gave us no doubt that Ferdinand was now available to Alex Ferguson for first team selection…

“It was always planned that he would play 45 minutes. I am not sure he needs any more games. Rio is a naturally fit lad. Today was about distances and getting tighter to the ball. Now he is available for selection again.”

Ferdinand would now seem to be in line to be recalled alongside Nemanja Vidic for the tricky trip to Goodison Park on September 11. That will of course mean that Jonny Evans will be relegated to the bench making him a redundant Fantasy asset after providing two clean sheets for his investors over the opening two fixtures.

In truth Evan’s hasn’t looked comfortable, particularly in the 2-2 draw with Fulham which saw Bobby Zamora dish out a torrid afternoon to the 22-year old Irishman. Evans has given us short-term value at just 5.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game, Ferdinand’s value of 6.5 can’t compare but John O’Shea, seemingly a fixture at right-back – at least for now, does at least match Evan’s valuation.

Despite Rio’s return, you would have to question whether this is the right time to invest in Ferguson’s rearguard. Everton, despite recent failings in front of goal, are creating chances and will surely stretch United and, following that game, United will host Liverpool at Old Trafford – United haven’t kept a clean sheet in that fixture over the past two seasons. Trips to Bolton and Sunderland then follow – both of which will surely provide stern tests for Ferdinand and his back four colleagues.

As a footnote, Anderson completed the full 90-minutes in last night’s game as he nears contention following a cruciate operation. Anderson will add further competition to the central midfield areas where the in-form Paul Scholes is currently holding off the claims of Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs for starts.

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Goalkeepers

Player Club Factors
No Change Krul NEW A, Vs
No Change Hart MCI B, Vs
No Change Kenny QPR C, Vs, Rest, £
No Change Mignolet SUN B, £
Up Al-Habsi WIG B, Vs, £
No Change Foster WBA B
No Change Vorm SWA B, VsX, £
Down Hennessey WOL B, Vs
No Change Sørensen STO B, Vs, Rest, £
Up Bogdan BOL C, Rest, £

Defenders

Player Club Factors
No Change Kompany MCI B, Vs
Up Huth STO B, Vs
No Change Simpson NEW B, Vs, £
No Change Riise FUL C, Vs
Up Bardsley SUN B, £
Up Senderos FUL B, Vs, Rest, £
Up Taiwo QPR B, Vs, £
No Change Evans MUN B, VsX, £
No Change Taylor NEW B, Vs, Rest, OoP
Up Rangel SWA B, VsX, £
No Change Clark AVL B, Vs, OoP, £
No Change McAuley WBA B, £
Down Johnson WOL B, £
Up Vermaelen ARS C
Down Enrique LIV B, VsX
Down Assou-Ekotto TOT A, VsX

Midfielders

Player Club Factors
No Change Bale TOT A, VsX
No Change Dempsey FUL A, Vs, OoP
No Change Silva MCI A, Vs
No Change Sessegnon SUN A, £
No Change Valencia MUN A, VsX
No Change Walters STO B, Vs, OoP, £
Up Moses WIG B, Vs, OoP, £
Up McClean SUN A, £
No Change Sinclair SWA B, VsX, £
Up Ben Arfa NEW B, Vs, Rest, OoP
Down Mata CHE C
Up Barton QPR B, Vs
Up Sigurdsson SWA B, VsX, £
No Change Ireland AVL B, Vs, Rest, £
No Change Donovan EVE B, VsX
No Change Morrison WBA B, £
Up Buzsaky QPR B, Vs, Rest, Inj, £
Up Murphy FUL B, Vs

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Up Ba NEW C, Vs
No Change Zamora QPR B, Vs
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Up Bent AVL A, Vs
Up Morison NOR B, £
Down Fletcher WOL B, £
No Change Rooney MUN C, VsX, Inj
Down Sturridge CHE C
Down Welbeck MUN A, VsX, Rest, £
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Shawcross STO 7
Caldwell WIG 7
Henry WOL 7
N'Zonzi BLA 6
Cole CHE 6
Luiz CHE 6
Lucas LIV 6
Barry MCI 6
Naughton NOR 6
Larsson SUN 6
Hunt WOL 6

“I do not agree with this decision, but we can do nothing. I do not agree. I explained to Mario and he understood.”

Roberto Mancini explains his begrudging acceptance of Mario Balotelli's four game ban