England captain Rio Ferdinand injures left knee in training, leaves hospital on crutches

England captain Ferdinand injures knee in training

RUSTENBURG, South Africa — England captain Rio Ferdinand hobbled out of a hospital on crutches after injuring his left knee in training Friday, casting doubt he will be able to play at the World Cup.

The 31-year-old center back was injured while defending against striker Emile Heskey during England’s first full training session in South Africa, barely a week before England’s opener against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.

Ferdinand immediately went to the Netcare Ferncrest Hospital for scans and he later left the building on crutches, going into an ambulance marked “Royal Bafokeng.”

It wasn’t immediately clear if he was returning to the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, where England is based.

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, who was cut from the preliminary 30-man squad on Tuesday, was put on standby as a possible replacement for Ferdinand. Under FIFA rules, players can be replaced up to the day before the opening game.

“The bad news is in the last moment of the training, Rio suffered a problem with the knee,” England coach Fabio Capello said before Ferdinand’s hospital tests. “We hope it will not be so bad an injury, but we have Michael Dawson on call. It came from a minor tackle during the training. How bad is it? We will have to wait and see.”

If Ferdinand is ruled out of the tournament, Matthew Upson or Ledley King, who has chronic knee problems, would likely take his starting spot in central defense alongside John Terry.

Ferdinand had another injury-plagued season for Manchester United. A long-standing back problem restricted him to 12 starts for United.

Another concern for Capello is the fitness of injury-prone goalkeeper David James, who was unable to train with his teammates and had to work separately in the gym. James is competing for the starting spot with Robert Green and Joe Hart.

“David James has a little problem with the knee after a long flight,” Capello said. “It is not such a big problem.”

But there was more positive news regarding Gareth Barry, with the midfielder training for the first time since injuring his right ankle a month ago.

The ligament damage sustained by Barry while playing for Manchester City on May 5 made him doubtful for the 23-man World Cup squad, but he made the cut after a medical check on Tuesday.

“We have to wait day by day to see what happens with the ankle,” Capello said. “The work is harder every day, stronger every day.

“In the afternoons he trains in the gym with the physio and in the morning with the team, but not completely with the team. We have to be careful with every moment and make sure the ankle is really good.”

Former captain David Beckham, whose World Cup campaign was ended by an Achilles’ tendon injury, has been allowed to travel with the squad.

“He will help in some moments. He is not a coach and he also trains alone,” Capello said. “But he is important because he is one of the symbols of England. It is important he is here and not on holiday.

“He can speak with the players and find some solutions. He is part of my team.”