Rio steps out of the shadows
By Jonathan Stevenson
When Rio Ferdinand returns to the Manchester United side at Old Trafford on Monday, it will end eight months of frustration for one of the world´s premier defenders.
The 25-year-old limped off injured after just 50 minutes of the league game at Wolves on 17 January and decided to begin his ban for failing to turn up for a drugs test immediately.
Since then, Ferdinand has had to watch from the sidelines as United´s title hopes have not once, but twice gone off the rails.
It took Wolves just 17 minutes to score when Ferdinand left the Molineux pitch and Sir Alex´s Ferguson´s side have suffered from defensive indiscipline ever since.
So why is Ferdinand such a key component of Ferguson´s side and can his comeback really propel United to another Premiership title?
DEFENSIVE DISASTER
When Ferdinand´s season came to an abrupt end due to his ban for missing a drugs test, Manchester United were top of the Premiership and had eased into the last 16 of the Champions League, conceding just 14 goals in the 19 league games he had played in.
In his absence Ferguson´s side leaked 20 goals in 16 matches, crashed out of Europe to Porto and had just the FA Cup to show for their efforts as Arsenal claimed the glory for going undefeated to regain the title.
Wes Brown was criticised after replacing Ferdinand last season
It was a catastrophic climax to the Premiership season and highlighted a value Ferdinand had to the team that surely surprised even his manager.
Since making the £30m move from Leeds in July 2002, the 33-times capped England international has proved himself time and again one of the most complete defenders in world football.
A calm and assured presence, Ferdinand has every attribute needed to be a top drawer centre-half - pace, the ability to read the game, great positional sense and the skill of timing headers and tackles to precision.
He lacks the imposing authority of Sol Campbell, but Ferdinand is widely respected, and the England squad´s threat to boycott last October´s World Cup qualifier in Turkey shows the esteem in which he is held by his team-mates.
United have chopped and changed in Ferdinand´s absence, with Mikael Silvestre, Wes Brown, John O´Shea, Gary Neville, and even Roy Keane trying to plug the gap.
The Old Trafford outfit started this season well enough, but conceding four goals in two games at Bolton and Lyon has made Ferdinand´s return even more imperative.
CALMING INFLUENCE
Ferdinand is not just a fine footballer; he has a positive influence on players around him and, in a quiet and unassuming way, has shown he can be a leader on the pitch.
He has made mistakes off the field and has been suitably punished for them, but Ferdinand has always come back stronger and more determined to gain the success his talents should produce.
United´s indifferent form since January has been attributed to many things, but a lack of leaders on the pitch - notably during the 4-1 derby hammering at the hands of Manchester City - has been regularly pinpointed as a failing.
Ferdinand commands the entire backline by asking them to follow his example, something Roy Keane and Alan Smith can equally inspire further up the field.
United´s rearguard have been indisciplined and it has cost them dearly. With Ferdinand back in the fray Ferguson knows once more he has a dependable authority in a crucial area and this could prove invaluable.
THE COMEBACK KID
Eight months out of action will have made Ferdinand hungrier and even more desperate for success than he was when he joined United.
But to expect him to walk straight back into the side against Liverpool after no competitive football and immediately change around the side´s fortunes is perhaps asking too much.
The FA has stopped Ferguson from even playing Ferdinand in a behind-closed-doors friendly to increase his match-sharpness, so it will take him time to find his very best form.
Pressure is something Ferdinand will be well used to during his high-profile career, but being seen as the man to save Manchester United´s season is about as heavy as it gets.
Wayne Rooney being named among the substitutes would certainly take some of the limelight away from Ferdinand at Old Trafford on Monday, a potential masterstroke from canny Scot Ferguson.
Ferdinand must take advantage of this to put his nightmare behind him and re-establish both himself and his club at the very top level of European football.
