Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Rio Ferdinand must accept he needs match-to-match management.

The Daily Mail says Ferdinand delivered a knockout blow to England manager Fabio Capello this week when he broke down again with his chronic back problem, weeks after the national coach appointed him as skipper.

It is understood that the 31-year-old has no idea when he will be fit enough to play, even though United manager Ferguson is hopeful the defender's latest lay-off will be a short one.

But Ferdinand has been made to face some uncomfortable realities about his future in recent weeks with his club manager telling him that he will not play game after game as he has in the past.

Indeed, Ferguson has privately likened Ferdinand's situation to Ryan Giggs, telling the centre half that once this summer's World Cup is over he will be used differently at Old Trafford.