Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to kickoff next season without England trio Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick.

The trio are among key United players who are expected to spend June and part of July at the World Cup and Ferguson has taken the extraordinary step of telling them to take a holiday in August.

The United boss told a Toronto radio station: "The World Cup could be very draining for players as it is the biggest tournament of their lives.

"We will give all the players involved a 28-day rest after the last game they play in and we will start the season without them. The squad that goes on our pre-season tour will be the squad that starts the season."

Ferguson's promise will also apply to France defender Patrice Evra, Portugal winger Nani, South Korea's Ji-Sung Park and Serbia's Nemanja Vidic.