Rio - In Fergie I trust

Manchester United ace Rio Ferdinand has firmly put his trust in Sir Alex Ferguson's ability to manage his comeback.

The England skipper returned to action against Rangers earlier this month after suffering a knee injury in the build-up to the World Cup.

Since then, he has been limited to just one game a week, skippering United in the Carling Cup win at Scunthorpe before featuring in the UEFA Champions League victory at Valencia on Wednesday.

He would now like to play in Saturday's Premier League trip to Sunderland, but will let Ferguson decide what is best.

The defender said: "I feel I can play two games in a row.

"It is obvious I need games. I have been out for so long, to expect to come back and play matches on the bounce straightaway would be wrong.

"I will just do what the manager asks me to do.

"He is the most experienced man on the planet in football terms. I have to trust the manager's judgment and his views on me playing for the future of the season.

"If he deems it right for me to play on Saturday I would be delighted."

There has been speculation that Ferdinand has a problem with his back but the defender has denied this.

"It's rubbish really," he said.

"I did some stretching before the game last night but that was not for my back. That is just an assumption.

"My back is fine. There is no problem."

United have conceded nine goals in their past five Premier League games but Ferdinand does not see it as a massive problem.

"A lot has been made about us not keeping clean sheets but I have been at all the games and have not seen us get opened up in a manner that would make it a real crisis," he said.

"We have been a little bit unfortunate and unlucky in certain circumstances, maybe even naive at points but I don't see it as a massive problem."

While United have thrown points away by conceding late goals at Fulham and Everton, Ferdinand believes a three-point gap on leaders Chelsea - who lost at Manchester City last weekend - is manageable.

"When you drop points against anyone you put yourself under pressure," he said.

"The seasons we have lost the league have been the ones where we have given teams a head start.

"It seemed like we were doing that until last weekend but now the gap is three again, which I wouldn't say it is a massive difference at this stage of the season.

"As long as we kick on from now and get on a good run of victories we will be all right."

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