Ferdinand hails evergreen pair

Rio Ferdinand says the careers of Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have been ‘inspiration’.

Scholes came out of retirement in January eight months after confirming his departure as a player, while Giggs remains a key member of the squad at the age of 38.

Ferdinand, who has played alongside the two stalwarts since joining United in 2002, reserved the highest praise for the example they set at the club.

“They are an inspiration to people like me,” he told The Sun.

“I’m 33 now and have been at the club 10 years.

“You see someone like Scholes, who is 37, and Giggs, who is even older, and you think to yourself that, hopefully, you can get to those levels in terms of both age and playing at the very top.

“But I think your body is the defining factor, telling you whether you can or can’t play at that level any more. Fingers crossed, my body holds up and I’ve another few years left in me.”

England international Ferdinand has managed to avoid a repeat of the injury problems which plagued him last season, and has set his sights on earning a place in the squad for Euro 2012.

“I’ve been to World Cups but never to a European Championship,” he said.

“So to finish the season with a title winner’s medal and then go to the Euros, it would be the icing on the cake.”

United face title rivals Manchester City on April 30 in a potentially decisive showdown, and Ferdinand hopes his side can have the trophy won by the time the two teams meet.

He said: “Obviously we’d love to have it wrapped up before then but who knows? It makes for a great run-in to the end of the season for the fans, whether they are for us, against us or neutrals.”