• Injured England captain to take break with family • ‘Rio is making good early progress from his knee injury’ Rio Ferdinand will not rejoin the England party for the remainder of the country’s World Cup campaign. Ferdinand returned to Manchester on Sunday to have his knee injury assessed having sustained the injury – and been ruled out of the tournament – following a training ground accident with Emile Heskey. He had stayed in Rustenburg to watch England’s first game against the USA last Saturday. It had been thought the 31-year-old would head back South Africa but, having been assessed by Manchester United’s medical staff, it has been decided Ferdinand will take a short break with his family before returning to Carrington for more intensive treatment. “Rio is making good early progress from his knee injury,” United said. “Medical staff have advised a two-week recuperation period with his family before returning to Carrington to complete the rehabilitation process.” Although United have not put a timescale on Ferdinand’s likely return to action, given the two-week break he has now embarked on, there must be a doubt over the defender being part of the club’s summer tour to North America for which they depart on 12 July. There would be more confidence of him being available for the Premier League opener against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on 14 August and England’s friendly with Hungary at Wembley three days before that. Rio Ferdinand England World Cup 2010 Group C World Cup 2010 guardian.co.uk
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World Cup 2010: Rio Ferdinand will not return to South Africa
