Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is confident he will return to full fitness despite his season being hindered by an ongoing back injury.

The England captain has struggled with the problem for much of this campaign and initial fears are that he may in trouble for the World Cup later this year but he has confirmed that he is confident he can get through it all if he just maintains himself properly.

"I am feeling very good about my fitness at the moment," Ferdinand said.

"I am really confident that the back problem won't flare up again because I do lots of my training in the rehab room these days and I am doing loads of work that will prevent the injury from returning.

"I really think I have got my finger on the pulse as far as the injury is concerned.

"It's just nice to be playing for United again. That's where my priority is at the moment and the England situation will look after itself. I have just come through two games in four days without any ¬reaction.

"The truth is that over the previous couple of months I couldn't even think about playing once a week.

"I have never had to sit and watch the team play since I have been a professional, so it has been very -frustrating.

"But I am over it now. I am older and wiser and I just want to get on with my career."