RIO Ferdinand’s World Cup is hanging in the balance after the England captain left hospital on crutches following a knee injury he sustained in training this lunchtime.

RIO Ferdinand’s World Cup is hanging in the balance after the England captain left hospital on crutches following a knee injury he sustained in training this lunchtime.

Ferdinand went down in agony and was sent for a scan by manager Fabio Capello amid fears he had suffered ligament damage.

The Football Association have still to make an official comment on the Manchester United defender’s injury but at this stage it looks possible he has suffered a major injury – and Tottenham’s Michael Dawson has been placed on stand-by.