Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand is hoping a scan on his rib injury will ease fears he will miss next week's European Champions League football match at Arsenal.
Ferdinand suffered the injury in the 1-0 semi-final, first-leg win over the Gunners at Old Trafford.
And the defender is a major doubt for United's visit to Middlesbrough in the Premier League this weekend.
If scans shows the 30-year-old England star has broken a rib, he could miss the remainder of the season.
Ferdinand has put in 40 appearances in all this season and has been a major factor in a United defence that has conceded only 23 League goals.
However, Nemanja Vidic seems likely to be partnered in the centre of defence by someone else at Middlesbrough after Ferdinand left the field in some discomfort towards the end of the match.
That person would probably be Jonny Evans, with Ferguson keen to keep John O'Shea at right-back, where he performed well at Old Trafford.
