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.