Rio's back in the treatment room

Rio Ferdinand will miss the match-up against Middlesbrough tomorrow after suffering a back spasm during the pre-match warm up when they visited Stoke City. Jonny Evans came in as a last minute replacement for that match and is expected to start again.

The gaffer confirmed thta, “Rio won’t play against Middlesbrough,”.

“He had a back spasm again. We have to get to the root of this; he’s had this back problem too many times, so we want to get to the bottom of it.

“First of all, we’ll give him complete rest, but I think he’ll be okay in about 10 days.”

Rio is expected to return to the field for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Derby County on 7 January.