Rio and Anton square up

Rio Ferdinand has vowed there will be no brotherly love on show once the first whistle blows at Upton Park on Sunday.

For the first time in their professional careers the Ferdinand brothers Rio and Anton will go head to head this weekend as Manchester United look to keep their slim Premiership title hopes alive with a victory at West Ham.

Up to 35 members of the Ferdinand clan will be at the game, with loyalties in the family camp so divided, some will be wearing half and half West Ham and Manchester United shirts.

And while Rio admits he is delighted at Anton’s progression through the Hammers’ academy ranks, just for once, he hopes his little brother has a stinker.

“I used to coach him as a kid on the grass on our estate,” Rio told the Manchester Evening News.

“I just hope I didn’t do the job too well.

“He is my brother and I want him to play well but I want to win, so I hope he cannot keep Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy quiet.”

Amid the elder Ferdinand’s trials and tribulations with the Red Devils this term, there have been some unkind suggestions Rio is no longer the best defender in his family.

Twenty-year-old Anton still may have some way to go to fulfil that bold statement as his hesitant performance against Tottenham last week proved.

But, their weekend rivalry aside, no-one could be more delighted than Rio at the progress his brother has made.

“It was always my wish to see my brother make it as a professional after I had gone into the game but you never believe 100% that it can happen,” said Ferdinand.

“But I knew he had the talent and he has proved good enough to do it at the top level consistently.”