Thursday’s UK newspapers carry quotes from Rio Ferdinand that will be of concern to both Barcelona and Hull City, but ease fears across the north east of England.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s had suggested that his defender might miss out on a starting place in next week’s Champions League final because of a calf injury.
But Ferdinand has told the Guardian there is “no chance” of him not being fit enough to start against Barcelona in Rome and claimed in the Daily Mirror to have won his fitness race.
And both The Times and the Daily Mail report that Rio has offered to turn out against Hull on Sunday in order to prove his fitness.
There were fears at relegation-threatened Newcastle and Sunderland that Manchester United would send out a weakened side against Hull in the crucial last game of the season as the Red Devils begin to focus on the Champions League final, so news of Ferdinand’s recovery will have gone down well.
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia, who really needs Hull to lose against United on Sunday, is quoted in the Daily Mirror and Daily Star as saying Ferguson would be right to field a weakened side against Hull – but would expect them to win regardless.
However, arguments, debate and concern over the side Ferguson will pick could be rendered purely academic, as reports in the Sun suggests United will bow to Premier League pressure and will field a strong team at Hull on Saturday.
It had been reported that Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle would consider a legal case against United if they played a weak side against Hull. The three sides rubbished the claim, but perhaps the story alone was enough to force intervention from the league.
Elsewhere, West Ham keeper Robert Green has told The Independent he is ready to rescue England from their goalkeeping crisis – but despite injuries in the keeping department is not yet sure whether he will get the call from Fabio Capello ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers
In other England news the Sun report that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has ended his bitter war of words with Capello over Ledley King and his selection for England despite a chronic knee injury.
And according to the Daily Mirror Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha is in line for a shock England call-up for the games against Kazakhstan and Andorra.
In transfer news the Daily Star report that Liverpool are plotting a fresh £10m bid to land Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson, while the Daily Mail reckon they could bid as much as £15m.
The Daily Star report that Aston Villa are lining up a £7m bid for Middlesbrough’s David Wheater, while the Sun claim that Boro will slap a £9m price tag on the defender David Wheater, even if they are relegated.
And finally, Chelsea news: The Daily Star say Carlo Ancelotti will be confirmed as the new Chelsea boss early next week; The Guardian report that the Blues are hopeful of fending off the advances of Barcelona for Ashley Cole and will offer the left-back a new deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge; and the Daily Express reckon Inter Milan are preparing a £21m double-swoop for Ricardo Carvalho and Jon Mikel Obi.
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