Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be counting on Rio Ferdinand next season.
Ferguson can see at least another season for a player whose career seemed to be drawing to a close.
"He should be OK for another season, he only turns 34 in November," said Ferguson.
"We don't train him every day, we let him have the odd quiet day, as we call it. He has had to change his game as he got older because he used to rely on his pace and mobility such a lot. He was such a pure athlete, he could outrun anyone and he used to take advantage of that. He can't do that any more so he has had to improve his positioning and play a bit deeper."