Rio: Little Pea is a role model

Manchester United centre–back Rio Ferdinand believes team–mate Javier Hernandez is an example to all young strikers.

Ferdinand is hoping to be alongside ‘Little Pea’ tomorrow when United visit Liverpool in an eagerly–awaited Barclays Premier League encounter.

And he would much rather be in that position than find himself in the boots of his Liverpool counterparts, for the 32–year–old knows from experience how difficult the Mexico frontman is to handle.

"Not a lot of strikers make the runs he does," Ferdinand said. "It's physically demanding.

"You have to be really fit to make those movements for 90 minutes.

"If I was a coach I would tell every young striker that he should take note of how Javier plays.

"That is what you have to do if you want to be a top footballer."

After suffering concussion on his first day of training on United's pre–season tour, then sustaining heavy knocks against both Chelsea and Stoke last month, Hernandez has struggled for continuity so far this season.

He still managed a couple of goals at Bolton though and manager Sir Alex Ferguson will hope the striker, who is set to sign a new long–term contract with the Old Trafford outfit, can find the net this weekend just as he did on his first visit to Anfield last March.

Despite his shock at being hit by a three–match suspension for his red card in Montenegro, which will rule him out of England's entire group phase, Wayne Rooney is set to be included.

Ferguson also hopes to have skipper Nemanja Vidic available for the first time since the opening–weekend win at West Brom.

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini reported Manchester City's striking crisis has eased — just as he made Carlos Tevez train on his own.

As expected, Tevez has returned to Carrington at the end of his two–week ban for allegedly refusing to play against Bayern Munich.

Boss Mancini dispatched him to work with a fitness trainer on his own in a separate part of City's Carrington training complex to the first–team squad.

The 27–year–old will not be required against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow given Mario Balotelli’s return from a back injury, while Sergio Aguero's adductor muscle problem has eased sufficiently for him to have an outside chance of inclusion.

"Sergio could be ready but I don't know if we will take the risk," said Mancini.