Filed under: Premier League, Football
Sir Alex Ferguson may have gone in to overdrive mode to deny it but there can be little doubt that questions about Rio Ferdinand's long-term Manchester United future are likely to grow and grow.Ferdinand has been out since early February with a calf injury and Ferguson admitted on Thursday that he would be "lucky" to have the England international fit again this season.
That is a huge blow to Manchester United in in what looks set to be a nervy title run-in and how Ferguson would love to be able to call upon the 32-year-old's experience in a bid to fend off the title advances of Arsenal, and even Manchester City or Chelsea.
The fact that even Ferguson is willing to admit Ferdinand's season looks over is an indicator of just how serious - and persistent - his recent injuries have been.
This is Ferdinand's third consecutive year of problems, beginning with a back injury in 2008 which has been the root cause of a succession of calf problems ever since.
The knee injury that ended his World Cup last year was an altogether more of a one-off and freakish problem and can generally be discounted as a cause of long-term concern but the fact he is still being plagued by calf and back trouble after all this time does not bode well for the future - no matter what Ferguson reckons.
He said: "Rio has plenty of years ahead of him.
"He has had a few injuries over the last few years I am sure that are a concern for him. But he is still capable of coming back and playing at the top level. He only needs the example of Gary Neville.
"I am sure he sees that. He is desperate to get back and he will.
Ferguson added: "Calf injuries can be troublesome. I remember Bryan Robson was out for four months with a calf injury. It is looking that way again with Rio. We are not looking at it as a short-term situation for us.
"He has been out for a few weeks now anyway and has not started training yet. It looks to me as if we will be lucky to get him back for some point of the season."
Ferdinand's availability for United has curtailed alarmingly in recent seasons and that adds further weight to the theory that the end could be approaching for this particular club and at this level.
In 2007-08 he played 60 games, in 2008-09 he managed 46 but he played just 26 matches last season and has only featured in 22 this year.
Those numbers are hardly the numbers of a man whose health and career are heading in the right direction.
And although Ferguson might not wish to admit it, he may have to start planning for a future without Ferdinand - and start planning quickly
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