Rio Ferdinand hopes for injury-free run

Manchester Rio Ferdinand's reticence about looking back is understandable given that, of the last 100 fixtures played by Manchester United, he has figured in just 41.

A succession of injuries to the 31 year-old's back, groin, and knee have proved costly for the £30 million (Dh172.1 million) defender.

Aside from the games he has missed for United, he suffered the agony of having to pull out of a World Cup and received confirmation that his chequered fitness record was a decisive factor in Sir Alex Ferguson overlooking him for the Old Trafford captaincy in favour of Nemanja Vidic.

With his 32nd birthday just two months away and Ferguson talking enthusiastically of the progress of £12 million acquisition Chris Smalling, Ferdinand, who ended his three-month knee injury lay-off against Rangers in midweek, is under pressure like never before at United.

So despite his reluctance to assess his 18 months from hell, the question remains valid. Is he finally over the injuries?

"I've been over this 100 times." Ferdinand said. "Hopefully, as I've said, I will now have a sustained period of being injury free. I will be going into the Liverpool game with no apprehension, but I've been over this 20 times or so. I'm sure it will be in the archives."

Last season's archive points to the 2-0 defeat at Anfield on October 25, when Ferdinand, compromised by a long-term back problem, was destroyed by Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

That game proved the final straw, with Ferguson withdrawing Ferdinand from the firing line in order to restore his fitness. The player was sidelined for three months, then came a four-match ban for hitting Hull's Craig Fagan, a niggling groin injury and, finally, the knee injury.

Ferdinand faces Torres again today, but he insists he is now ready to tackle the Spaniard without restrictions.

He said: "I've been working so hard in the gym and on the training ground to make sure that, when I came back, it would not be for one or two games but for a sustained period. It has been frustrating because it has been stop-start for the past two years.

"The habit of a footballer is to always go out and play regardless of little niggles. I probably didn't realise how serious the injuries were, though, so it might have been a blessing in disguise [to take time with the recovery from the knee injury]."I'm under no illusions that, if I play against Liverpool, I will be coming up against a top-class player in Torres."People jump on the bandwagon, but players get injuries. Torres is a great player ..."