The Manchester United defender has been part of the squad when key players battling against injury and off the pitch issues - including WAGS - have dominated headlines leading up to and during tournaments.

But Ferdinand, who has had injury problems of his own for the past 12 months but is set to return to the England fold for Saturday's fixture against Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk, cannot see Capello taking players who are a fitness doubt to South Africa.

And the Italian will insist on the squad being 100 per cent focused on trying to lift football's major prize for the first time in 44 years.

Ferdinand said: "It's only right for him not to take players if they are injured. If we want to win, we need everyone firing and going on all cylinders.

"This manager is very black and white in his thinking. Either you are fit or you are not.

"Too many times in the past we've been umming and ahhing on too many players in previous tournaments. This manager doesn't work like that. He doesn't take anything for granted or chance.

"If he feels someone is going to have a positive effect on the team, then they'll be on the plane. If you're carrying an injury, I very much doubt you'll get on the plane.

"That is the big difference with this manager. He wouldn't allow a distraction.

"There have been distractions over the last few World Cups, whether they've been injuries or loads of other things.

"This manager will try and keep things as football orientated as possible."

The 30-year-old admits his family will travel to Africa for the finals, but he expects access to be more restricted for everyone than in the past.

"I still think that the players' families will travel over there," he said.

"My mum and dad, brothers and sisters, missus and kids, will be there at different times.

"But I think the access will be very different to last time. Whether there will be as much going on, I doubt it. The logistics as well will be different given where we'll be."

Ferdinand understands why he is questioned about his own fitness given that he has started only two of England's last nine internationals.

But the ex-Leeds defender is adamant his niggling back problem is behind him and his injury worries this season were caused by a kick on the thigh from Wayne Rooney during pre-season training.

"I can understand why people are asking questions about my fitness," he added.

"I'd be foolish to think that no one would ask me that question. For the last 12 months, every now and again, I've had to miss games through injuries.

"There hadn't been a period before that, so it's going to stand out. Each injury's been different. Everyone seems to think it is my back but I haven't had a problem with my back since last season.

"I pulled my thigh the day before the start of the season, and that's all I've had this season. My back's been fine since last season.

"It was probably two or three games from the end of the season since I had anything wrong with my back. Hopefully I've seen the worst of the back problem."