England management have big concerns over Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and Chelsea's John Terry.

The Times says Ferdinand's continuing injury problems and Terry's poor form are causing mounting concern among the England management team with 51 days to go before the start of the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Fabio Capello, the manager, has no intention of breaking up his first choice centre-half pairing before England kick off their campaign against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12, but there is a growing sense of unease about their differing struggles.

The fitness of Ferdinand, the Manchester United defender, is the main worry. Although Terry's performances for Chelsea have suffered badly since news broke 11½ weeks ago of his extramarital affair with the former partner of Wayne Bridge, the Manchester City left back, Capello is less troubled by that than the recurrent injuries to Ferdinand, who replaced Terry as captain