United's bid to become the first English visitors to beat Porto - and more importantly to reach a third successive UEFA Champions League semi-final - has been boosted by the news that Rio Ferdinand is fit.
The influential defender has missed the Reds' last three games, against Aston Villa (3-2), Porto (2-2) and Sunderland (2-1), but he is now ready to resume his centre-back partnership with Nemanja Vidic at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday night.
"Rio Ferdinand is fit, he'll start tomorrow [Wednesday]," Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed at his pre-match press conference in Portugal. "He trained on Friday, Saturday and Sunday [and again at Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday night]."
Ferdinand and Vidic haven't completed a game together since the Reds triumphed in the last round by beating Internazionale 2-0 at Old Trafford. That was also the last game in which United kept a clean sheet.
"Rio always makes a difference when he's in the team," the boss said. "It's the experience and the quality he has in his game. It will also see us back to the partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic, which has been the cornerstone of great defensive performances this season."
While the defensive ranks are strengthened by Rio's return, the midfield options have been depleted by the absence of Darren Fletcher, who did not fly out with the squad from Manchester. Sir Alex informed us the Scot sustained a hamstring injury in the first meeting with Porto at Old Trafford last Tuesday.
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