England captain Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out of the World Cup following a knee injury during the squad’s first training session in South Africa.
Ferdinand has left hospital on crutches and it is reported that the central defender has sustained ligament damage to his knee.
England head coach Fabio Capello is expected to call-up Michael Dawson to the squad to replace the injured Manchester United star.
England have just eight days to go before they kick-off their World Cup campaign against USA on Saturday 12 June.
