Rio Ferdinand may not return to action until early September after the Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed he is still six weeks away from full fitness.
Ferdinand suffered a knee ligament injury while in pre-World Cup training with England on 4 June, but in early July it was suggested by United that he might be fit for the opening Premier League game against Newcastle on 16 August.
However, Ferguson now estimates that it will take him longer. "Rio is probably around six weeks away from playing," he said.
That diagnosis would also make him a doubt for England's first two Euro 2012 qualifiers, against Bulgaria and Switzerland on 3 and 7 September respectively.
Ferdinand himself said today on his Twitter page that he would be "playing again" in six weeks and said he was starting rehab. "We put dates on these injury comebacks but sometimes the goalposts move a bit, as in this case," he added.
Ferguson will be able to welcome Gary Neville back to his squad after his return from a calf injury, while Antonio Valencia has also recovered.
Michael Owen (hamstring) has yet to resume training while Anderson is expected back in late September and Owen Hargreaves has remained in the United States to continue treatment after a recurrence of a tendinitis problem.
Ferdinand suffered a knee ligament injury while in pre-World Cup training with England on 4 June, but in early July it was suggested by United that he might be fit for the opening Premier League game against Newcastle on 16 August.
However, Ferguson now estimates that it will take him longer. "Rio is probably around six weeks away from playing," he said.
That diagnosis would also make him a doubt for England's first two Euro 2012 qualifiers, against Bulgaria and Switzerland on 3 and 7 September respectively.
Ferdinand himself said today on his Twitter page that he would be "playing again" in six weeks and said he was starting rehab. "We put dates on these injury comebacks but sometimes the goalposts move a bit, as in this case," he added.
Ferguson will be able to welcome Gary Neville back to his squad after his return from a calf injury, while Antonio Valencia has also recovered.
Michael Owen (hamstring) has yet to resume training while Anderson is expected back in late September and Owen Hargreaves has remained in the United States to continue treatment after a recurrence of a tendinitis problem.
