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General Sports News

Rio verdict boosts Man Utd

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 01/05/2009

Manchester United have received a major boost with the news that defender Rio Ferdinand's rib injury is not as serious as was first feared.

The 30-year-old England international was injured late on in the 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg win over Arsenal in midweek, with United fearful that Ferdinand had suffered a cracked rib.

However, subsequent scans have shown no broken bones and Ferdinand could be back for the return leg against the Gunners next week, aiding United's bid to land tempting football odds of unprecedented domestic and European success.

Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez has again admitted that he could opt to leave Old Trafford at the end of the current campaign.

The 25-year-old Argentina international is coming to the end of a two-year loan spell with United, having scored 32 goals in 94 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

However, Tevez is concerned that he isn't a regular first choice for United and is considering moving on in search of more regular action.

Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed that veteran Turkey midfielder Tugay will leave Ewood Park at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old schemer joined Rovers in the summer of 2001 from Scottish giants Rangers, having spent 18 months at Ibrox following his arrival from Galatasaray.

He has gone on to score 13 goals in 290 appearances for Rovers in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Rovers midfielder David Dunn will miss the closing weeks of the Premier League season after having to undergo an operation on an Achilles problem.

Allardyce also fears that Roque Santa Cruz could miss the remainder of the campaign due to a knee problem.

In cricket, all-rounder Paul Collingwood will captain England at the ICC World Twenty20 on home soil this summer.

The former England ODI skipper has accepted the role, leading a 15-man party which also includes Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan, Kent captain Robert Key and Essex wicketkeeper James Foster.

Collingwood resigned as ODI skipper less than a year ago, but says that he is happy to take up the role for a short period second time around.

Squad: Collingwood (Durham, captain), Anderson (Lancashire), Bopara (Essex), Broad (Nottinghamshire), Flintoff (Lancashire), Foster (Essex), Key (Kent), Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Morgan (Middlesex), Napier (Essex), Pietersen (Hampshire), Shah (Middlesex), Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Swann (Nottinghamshire) and Wright (Sussex).

Former England captain Michael Vaughan suffered a slight knee injury while warming up for day four of Yorkshire's County Championship clash with Worcestershire.

The 34-year-old was injured while playing football before play began and did not take the field later in the day.

In rugby union, Saracens have continued their rebuilding programme for next season by snapping up the South African hooker Ethienne Reynecke.

The 27-year-old moves to Vicarage Road from Super 14 side the Lions where he has spent the last two seasons.

In rugby league, Bradford Bulls have rubbished reports linking former coach Brian Noble with a return to the club.

Noble left the Bulls in 2006 to join Wigan Warriors, but has been linked with a return to the Odsal hot-seat in recent weeks to replace under-fire coach Steve McNamara.

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