Man Utd upbeat over Ferdinand fitness for opener

Rio Ferdinand could be fit in time for Manchester United’s opening Premier League game of the 2010/11 season, the club indicated Monday.

Reports in the British press suggested Ferdinand might be out of action for several months with the knee ligament injury that meant the central defender missed the whole of England’s lacklustre World Cup campaign in South Africa.

But United, on Monday, estimated Ferdinand’s recovery would take 10 weeks from the time he suffered the injured injury.

Ferdinand was injured in a training ground collision with England colleague Emile Heskey in Rustenburg on June 4 and the 31-year-old had to relinquish both his place in the squad and the captaincy.

If United’s forecast is accurate, Ferdinand could be fit to face newly-promoted Newcastle at Old Trafford on August 14.

United next play Fulham the following weekend before West Ham, the club where Ferdinand began his career, come to Old Trafford on August 28.