With Gary Neville always injured and Ryan Giggs not always a starting player, there have been calls for Rio Ferdinand to be given the armband on a permanent basis.

Sir Alex Ferguson has today said Rio is the future captain, although claims Ferdinand didn’t look like a captain when he first joined, despite already captaining Leeds.

“When players first come to the club you don’t know enough about them, it’s only in the last few years that I’ve seen that with Rio,” said Ferguson. “He had a casualness about him when he first joined as a young lad which sometimes frustrated you, but he’s matured and has a great strength of character. He’s a good leader now and I think he will be our captain when Neville and Giggs hang their boots up.”

Rio Ferdinand has still yet to train since picking up an injury whilst playing for England, although the plan is to get him in to training today so that he will be ready for Sunday.