Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton admits he's upset for Rio Ferdinand after the defender was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury.

In his column for the Mail on Sunday, Charlton wrote: "How awful for Rio Ferdinand that, as a result of being injured in England's very first training session, it will not be him in what would surely have been his World Cup farewell.

"Without question, losing Ferdinand is a serious setback for Capello. He will be missed, as his influence and ability was by United last season. With a fully fit Rio, I believe we would have won the league once again.

"I know how much he was looking forward to going to South Africa as captain of England.

"He believed his bad luck was behind him and better times lay ahead. His absence will test the strength of our back-up squad and not many central defenders had a better Premier League season than Dawson, one of the main reasons Harry Redknapp managed to guide Spurs into next season's Champions League."