Ferdinand inspired by Cantona

RIO FERDINAND revealed that he had been inspired by the example of Eric Cantona in coping with his own eight-month suspension as he prepared to make his long-awaited return for England.

Ferdinand missed 13 England games during his ban for missing a drugs test and will have noted the irony of the dope testers being present at the team hotel for random samples yesterday.

However, he returns for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Wales as not only a stronger person, but also - he hopes - a better player having spent his time out analysing his game.