SVEN LOVES PAUL

Last updated : 09 October 2002 By Editor

Sven Goran Eriksson isn't worried about Scholesy's injury and will definitely play him against Slovakia.

"We knew about Scholes injury and that he was going to have the scan before Manchester United played Everton so there is no problem with that. We were told about things on Sunday.

He played 90 minutes on Monday and hopefully he will play 90 minutes as well on Saturday. He will be on the plane with us. He had had this problem for a long time but he is playing on with it.

He is important and is demonstrating at the moment that, wherever you put him, he is great.

Recently he's been playing like a second striker and doing that well and I've seen play outside left and in the centre of midfield. He is excellent.''

Meanwhile United are hoping Rio will recover from his operation as fast as Paul Scholes did from his. Ferdinand had a small piece of cartilage removed and if all goes to plan he could be back in time for the derby on November 9.