Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out of this summer's World Cup after suffering a knee injury in the final moments of England's first training session in South Africa.
The England captain suffered the injury in a challenge with Emile Heskey and was immediately sent to a local hospital for a scan. He emerged from the examination wearing a knee brace and walking with crutches.
A statement on the FA website on Friday evening read: "England Captain Rio Ferdinand today suffered a left-knee ligament injury in training. Further to a scan arranged by the England medical staff immediately after training on Friday afternoon, Rio has been ruled out for four to six weeks and will therefore unfortunately miss the World Cup."
Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson will fly to South Africa on Friday evening to take Ferdinand's place in the 23-man squad.
England Manager Fabio Capello said: "It is obviously bad news and everyone with the squad is very disappointed and sorry for Rio. It was an accidental injury in training, but had nothing to do with the pitch."
