The Manchester United defender will miss next Wednesday's game at Wembley after feeling a twinge in his back before Tuesday's Barclays Premier League match against West Ham.

That came just three games into his comeback from a long-standing back complaint which kept him out for more than three months.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson immediately ruled Ferdinand out of Sunday's Carling Cup final and the 31-year-old also misses out on the chance of leading his country into their first game since John Terry was stripped of the captaincy.

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