Rio Ferdinand ruled out of World Cup with knee injury

Ferdinand, the England captained, sustained a knee injury in training

Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a knee injury in training this morning.

The Manchester United defender is set to miss the whole tournament in South Africa after leaving hospital in crutches.

Fabio Capello is now expected to call up Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson, who Capello had named as a back-up. Dawson is likely to fly out to the England camp overnight.

England have been given one boost today, however, after Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry completed a training session with the squad for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury at the end of the season.

“Barry started training with the team and he is improving every day,” Capello said.

“He is getting better and better every moment. In the afternoons he trains in the gym with the physio and in the morning with the team, but not completely with the team. We have to be careful with every moment and make sure the ankle is really good.”

Barry could be an unlikely inclusion in Capello’s squad to face USA on 12 June, but should the former Villa man miss out he is likely to be included against Algeria six days later.

The only player to miss the training session in Rustenburg was goalkeeper David James, who complained of stiffness in his knee following the 11-hour flight to South Africa.

But Capello was not worried about the Portsmouth goalkeeper, stating: “David James had a little problem with the knee but not such a big problem.”