MIDFIELD MAESTRO

Rio Ferdinand’s performance in midfield has prompted Paul Ince to demand that he plays there for England:

"Rio can play that holding midfield position for England - the kid is good enough to do it. Sven should be looking at Rio to do that in the World Cup because I think he is awesome. He can play centre-half, right-back, anywhere," Ince said.

Ferguson reveals his thinking about the ‘gamble’:

"I was forced into taking a gamble on trying something different. Darren has played a lot of games recently and I thought he really needed a break. Alan has missed a lot of training with a niggling ankle injury and I thought it would have been asking a lot of him to play in a full-blooded FA Cup tie.

"I decided to gamble with Rio and Wayne and they both did okay. It's something I might consider again for the Blackburn game on Wednesday given that Alan's suspended."