FERDINAND: Still troubled by injury

RIO FERDINAND is facing a titanic three-week battle to prove he can lead his country to the World Cup.

The Manchester United defender's spot in Fabio Capello's 23-man squad to South Africa is under serious threat despite his position as England captain.

Ferdinand is set to miss United's potential title decider with Stoke at Old Trafford after missing training again yesterday.

Boss Fabio Capello has already turned to Jamie Carragher to alleviate his concerns about an injury-hit defensive unit.

Carragher will not only be named in the provisional squad of 30, he will make the cut for the final 23.

With Ledley King also a certainty to travel - after showing he can handle the demands of three games in under a fortnight - Ferdinand will have to prove he is physically capable of coping with a four-week tournament.

That will mean rigorous tests when the provisional squad convenes in just over a week's time and putting in committed performances in the friendlies against Mexico and Japan at the end of this month.

We understand Capello has three central defenders already pencilled in his final 23.

King, John Terry and Carragher have booked their seats and, under normal circumstances, Ferdinand would head a list of four.

But there is increasing concern amongst the England coaching and medical staff over Ferdinand's fitness.

And ruthless Capello would not hesitate to leave his captain at home if the Manchester United defender was not 100 percent healthy.

The shock re-selection of Carragher has put Ferdinand's predicament into sharp focus.

Carragher's inclusion will be confirmed on Tuesday and it is hard to imagine him agreeing to being available again unless there was a guarantee he would not be amongst those cut when Capello trims his squad at the beginning of June.

That sends out a clear signal that the prospect of Ferdinand captaining England at South Africa 2010 is by no means a certainty.