Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand faces EIGHT WEEKS out with a back injury.
The News of the World says Ferdinand has been carrying the injury for months.
And now anxious United physios are demanding he gets the rest and treatment he needs to cure the problem. Ferdinand may need to see a specialist after being left out of United's 2-0 Premier League triumph over Blackburn yesterday.
His back ailment has affected his running but Ferdinand had soldiered on bravely - despite being less than 75 per cent fit - because of his desire to help the club.
An Old Trafford insider revealed: "All Rio wants to do is play pain free.
"This injury first flared up before United's Champions League quarter-final against Porto last season and it has gradually got worse.
"Now the problem has been identified and needs to be cured, whether it takes two, four, six or eight weeks."
