Rio Ferdinand injury plunges England's World Cup into crisis

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The England skipper was rushed to hospital with a knee injury after this morning's training session in South Africa.

Ferdinand hobbled out of practice after being hurt in a tackle at the team's base in Rustenburg, 75 miles from Johannesburg. He left hospital on crutches after a scan on his left knee.

"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," said an FA statement.

"Tottenham Hotspur's Michael Dawson has been contacted and will fly to South Africa on Friday evening.

"Steven Gerrard will lead the England team as captain in the tournament."

The loss of the 31-year-old Manchester United defender will be a huge blow to the team's hopes.

Capello was quick to stress the obvious disappointment at hearing the news.

"It is obviously bad news and everyone with the squad is very disappointed and sorry for Rio," he said.

"It was an accidental injury in training, but had nothing to do with the pitch."

England's first game against the USA is in eight days.

Capello's alternatives in the current squad are West Ham's Matthew Upson, Tottenham's Ledley King and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher.

Upson has started nine of the last 17 internationals while King has forced his way into Capello's thinking despite his long-term knee problem.

King has impressed for Tottenham this season and did train this morning. By his own admission he looked far from convincing in the recent friendly with Mexico at Wembley, but he would be the current favourite to partner John Terry in the Group C opener against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.

The other option is Carragher, although as Capello has pencilled him in as the back-up right-back to Anfield team-mate Glen Johnson, it seems unlikely the 32-year-old would be picked as first choice in another position without an addition right-back being drafted in.

Goalkeeper David James did not train because of a knee injury aggravated by the long flight from London. But in better news, Gareth Barry trained for the first time in a month.