Rio ready to run the gauntlet at Elland Road

RIO FERDINAND will not be fazed by the taunts of Leeds supporters when he returns to Elland Road today, according to his Manchester United team-mate Mikael Silvestre.

Manager Alex Ferguson has already indicated Ferdinand will start and the central defender trained as usual with the United squad this week, despite his failure to attend a drugs test last month and subsequent omission from the England team.

Silvestre said: "It is not the first time Rio is going back there. He knows the crowd will be against him, but he handled it very well last year.