Rio Ferdinand will not return this month, and may face four weeks on the sidelines as Sir Alex confirmed the center-back was 'nowhere near fitness'. The England skipper injured his knee ahead of the World Cup, which kept him out of South Africa and could also keep him out for five games...

The 31-year-old 'Three Lions' International suffered ligament damage in England's first World Cup training session. The injury forced him out of the world stage, as he traveled back to Manchester for rehabilitation. Ferdinand is not yet fit, and may miss United's first five Premier League games.

"He is nowhere near fitness. He’s doing little bits of jogging and things like that. He’s at least a month away. It was a knee ligament injury. There was no detachment or rupture of the ligament which was a blessing. But it was a bad one and it’s going to take time." explained Sir Alex.

"You don’t want to see players getting a succession of injuries when they are in their thirties," he added. "Gary Neville had an incredible number of muscular injuries but has kept on coming back. Rio will take encouragement from the way Gary has handled his problems. Hopefully this lay off will help Rio's other injury problems settle down."

Meanwhile, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves will miss the start of the season, with Gary Neville a doubt for tonight's domestic kick-off against Newcastle United in Old Trafford...