Ferdinand: Xmas return
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects Rio Ferdinand to be back in time for Christmas.
Ferdinand is currently sidelined with a calf problem, but that is connected to his long-standing back complaint.
Ferguson is refusing to rush the England star back into action before he is fully fit.
"Rio isn't far away now," said Ferguson.
"He is doing much better and thinks he is at the level he was when he was playing last time. But we have got to handle it correctly.
"He is seeing the right medical people and I would expect him to be back before Christmas.
"I don't think we would consider an operation. You don't operate on a back unless it is really serious and it's not that bad."

Zola gets vote of confidence
Fulham 3-0 Burnley - Hodgson
Fulham 3-0 Burnley - Laws
Man City 2-0 Bolton - Johnson and Vieira
Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland - Bruce
Wigan 1-1 Stoke - Martinez
Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland - James
Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland - Grant
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Arsenal vs Liverpool |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | West Ham vs Birmingham |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton vs Tottenham |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| 20:00 | Everton vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 16th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Man City |
| Wednesday 17th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Bolton |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Everton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Chelsea |
| 17:30 | Portsmouth vs Stoke |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 14:00 | Aston Villa vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Liverpool |
| 16:15 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| Monday 22nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Bolton |
| Tuesday 23rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs West Ham |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Chelsea vs Man City |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Fulham 3 - 0 Burnley | |
| Sunday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 2 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Everton | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Stoke 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 5 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Burnley 2 - 1 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 3rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 2nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Arsenal 1 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 1 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 25 | 58 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 25 | 56 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 25 | 49 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 25 | 44 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 24 | 44 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 43 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 24 | 41 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 24 | 37 |
| 9 | Fulham | 26 | 34 |
| 10 | Everton | 24 | 32 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 24 | 30 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 28 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 25 | 26 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 24 | 24 |
| 15 | Hull City | 25 | 24 |
| 16 | Burnley | 25 | 23 |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 24 | 22 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 24 | 21 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 | 21 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 25 | 16 |
Barca had two men sent off, Robbie Keane scored for Celtic while FC Twente finally lost in Holland.
The Insider thinks Mansfield Town's novel idea could boost crowds higher up the football ladder.
A naive Arsenal slipped further out of the title race while Liverpool enjoyed a positive weekend.
Portsmouth are attempting to secure an adjournment in hearing their appeal against a winding-up petition.
David Sullivan has dismissed reports that Gianfranco Zola could be dismissed if West Ham lose to Birmingham.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is not prepared to abandon his frugal transfer policy because the finances are not available.
Serbian international Milan Jovanovic has agreed to join Liverpool this summer, according to his agent.
Gianfranco Zola will not quit West Ham because he does not like to 'leave a situation unfinished'.