Ferdinand Fit for Barca

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will be fit for the Champions League Final meeting with Barcelona, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The England centre-half was absent from the crucial Premier League victories over Manchester City and Wigan this week and Ferguson was resigned to being without him for the possible title-clincher against Arsenal on Saturday.

But Ferguson hopes that Ferdinand will have recovered from a calf injury sufficiently to take his place in the concluding league meeting of the season against Hull and fully expects him to be available for the trip to Rome on May 27, which will see United attempt to defend their Champions? League crown.

"I'm sure he'll be available for the final but it's one of these calf niggles that usually take 10 days to two weeks," the United boss said Friday.

"But I'm hopeful he'll be fit for next Sunday's game against Hull, which he should be really, and that would be good news for us.

"We're giving him his treatment for these kind of injuries and he's come along but he's not available for tomorrow (Saturday) but hopefully he'll be ready for next Sunday.

"He doesn't train, he's getting treatment but he's doing his work in the gymnasium, cardio work and cycling but nothing more than that."