Rio Ferdinand feels pressure as he tries to forget injury past

A succession of injuries to the 31 year-old's back, groin, and knee have proved costly for the £30 million defender.

Aside from the games he has missed for United, he suffered the agony of having to pull out of a World Cup and received confirmation that his chequered fitness record was a decisive factor in Sir Alex Ferguson overlooking him for the Old Trafford captaincy in favour of Nemanja Vidic.

With his 32nd birthday just two months away and Ferguson talking enthusiastically of the progress of £12 million acquisition Chris Smalling, Ferdinand, who ended his three-month knee injury lay-off against Rangers in midweek, is under pressure like never before at United.