CAIRO: England captain Rio Ferdinand is to sit out the country's World Cup tune-up match against African champions Egypt next Wednesday. According to the English side, Ferdinand has a slight back injury and will miss the match. He felt a twinge in his back before his English club team Manchester United played West Ham on Tuesday in the Barclays Premier League and is certain to be left off the squad. The injury came only three matches into his return from a long-term back complaint that had kept him off the pitch for more than three months. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson immediately ruled Ferdinand out of Sunday's Carling Cup final and the 31-year-old also misses out on the opportunity to be England captain for the first time since John Terry was demoted from his position after personal scandal. “He won't be fit for the England game,” said Ferguson. “That is obvious.” Liverpool's Steven Gerrard would appear to be next on the list for Capello, who will be at Chelsea to watch their Premier League encounter with Manchester City – and the meeting between Terry and Wayne Bridge – on Saturday, with either Frank Lampard or Wayne Rooney acting as back-up. Not that Ferguson is overly interested in Three Lions affairs. He is more upset at losing Ferdinand to a back injury that has plagued him for 18 months just as Nemanja Vidic was returning to his starting line-up. “It is a blow for us because I was looking forward to having Ferdinand and Vidic back on Tuesday,” reflected the Scot. “Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. You never know with back injuries and we have been through this before, but we don't think it is too serious. I don't think he will be fit for the AC Milan game but I don't think it will be long afterward. We think he could be back in two weeks.” BM
