Rio Ferdinand should be fit to face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg showdown on Tuesday.
Manchester United expect to get the good news today that Ferdinand’s rib injury suffered in the first leg on Wednesday is not as bad as first feared.
The £30m centre-half trudged off the pitch near the end of United’s 1-0 win over the Gunners worried that his season could be over.
Ferdinand, who was clutching his ribcage and clearly in a lot of pain, was taken to hospital for a scan, with worried United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitting: “It does not look too good at the moment.�
But Starsport understands those fears were allayed yesterday, when key player Ferdinand was released from hospital.
Broken ribs would have meant the England star missing a minimum three of the last four weeks of the season.
And that would have dealt a serious blow to United’s bid to become the first club to retain the Premier League and Champions League trophies.
As it is, Ferdinand will almost certainly be rested for tomorrow’s trip to Middlesbrough.
But Ferguson is expected to announce today that his talented defender will be available for the climax to a potentially record-breaking campaign.