Ferguson denies 'war' with Eriksson

Manchester United officials moved swiftly on Saturday to inform Sven Goran Eriksson of Rio Ferdinand's knee injury as they tried to prevent another club-versus-country row.

The day after appearing at the opening of his club's new Dublin megastore, where he talked enthusiastically about facing Everton in the Premiership tonight, Ferdinand entered hospital for exploratory knee surgery.

Eriksson was informed of Ferdinand's operation by United's club doctor immediately after Saturday's Premiership encounter at Upton Park between West Ham and Birmingham, which was attended by the England coach.

Unfortunately, the news came less than three hours after Eriksson had informed reporters that the only injury absence from the squad to face Slovakia and Macedonia this week was the Leeds striker Robbie Fowler.

United were unaware of Eriksson's mid-afternoon press briefing but feel they could not have acted any faster. The final decision was only taken Saturday afternoon, following a training session in which Ferdinand said the problem, which has affected him since the start of the season, had started to bother him again.

With Gary Neville's return following a broken foot offering extra defensive cover, Sir Alex Ferguson took the decision to send Ferdinand for an immediate operation. Against Everton at Old Trafford tonight, there is likely to be another outing for the impressive young Irishman John O'Shea as Laurent Blanc's partner.

Ferguson has already stirred controversy this season when he named Paul Scholes in his side to face Middlesbrough barely 24 hours after informing Eriksson that his midfielder would be unavailable for the following Saturday's friendly with Portugal. Scholes was subsequently substituted against Boro and was then forced to have a knee operation from which he has only just returned.

After a week of argument over his dismissive treatment of the national side, Ferguson moved to explain his situation. "There appears to be an attempt to drive a wedge between myself and Sven Goran Eriksson," he said. "I suppose it makes a good story to suggest the manager of Manchester United is at war with the England manager but I can tell you quite clearly – neither Sven nor I is going to fall for that one. We have a good relationship.

"I am always happy for my players to report for England duty provided they are fit and they want to go. Let me say quite categorically, Sven and I don't have a problem, nor will we."

Everton travel with slight doubts over their top scorer Kevin Campbell and goalkeeper Richard Wright, who have both picked up a virus. The Swedes Niclas Alexandersson and Tobias Linderoth were victims of the virus last week and it made them miss the Worthington Cup tie at Wrexham.

Mark Pembridge returns following an eye infection but Steve Watson (groin) and Alessandro Pistone (hamstring) will again miss out, though both are said to be on the road to recovery.

The midfielder Rodrigo is still ruled out with his cruciate ligament injury, having returned to his native Brazil for an operation.