Ferdinand back for final

Rio Ferdinand has been passed fit to play for Manchester United in Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Wigan at the Millennium Stadium.

The England defender missed the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool last weekend with a hamstring injury but after intensive treatment earlier this week he is now expected to take his place in defence.

John O’Shea is also available after recovering from fractured ribs and is an outside bet to claim a spot in a midfield which has already lost Paul Scholes and Alan Smith for the remainder of the campaign.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Howard, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra, O’Shea, Richardson, Ronaldo, Park, Giggs, Fletcher, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Saha, Rossi, Bardsley.