ENGLAND AND UNITED
Last updated : 02 September 2003 By editor
Rio Ferdinand is expected to join up with Sven-Goran Eriksson's England
squad even though he is still being troubled by a kidney infection. However, with the England party setting up a training base in Manchester ahead of their Euro 2004 double-header with Macedonia and Liechtenstein, Ferdinand has apparently been given permission to report for international duty.
United team-mate Nicky Butt should also be there even though he made only a brief substitute appearance at Southampton as the midfielder returned from the ankle injury he sustained in England's friendly win over Croatia last month.
"There have been conversations between the Manchester United medical
staff and those of the Football Association in recent days, as well as
between Sven and Sir Alex Ferguson," confirmed an FA spokesman.
"Although they were primarily about Paul Scholes, the fitness of Rio
Ferdinand and Nicky Butt will also have been mentioned."
