Injury relief for Ferdinand

Scans have confirmed that Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand did not break his metatarsal at Middlesbrough.

The 29-year-old centre-back, who captained England against France at the end of March, was forced off after 70 minutes of the weekend's 2-2 draw at the Riverside.

He was seen leaving the ground with a protective cast on his left foot, but fears over his fitness have since been allayed by medical tests carried out by the club on Monday.

"Rio went for a scan on Monday and we can confirm that he has not suffered any break," said a statement on manutd.com.

United are yet to reveal any further information regarding the extent of his injury, but young Spanish defender Gerard Pique filled in for Ferdinand on Sunday and could be called upon again for the club's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Roma on Wednesday.

United are already without Ferdinand's defensive partner Nemanja Vidic because of a knee injury sustained in the first leg against the Italians and looked shaky at the back against Boro.

John O'Shea deputised for Vidic initially, but was soon switched with Wes Brown at right-back and the fact Pique has already acquitted himself well at the Stadio Olimpico this season could earn him the nod.