Pallister: Ferdinand needs to adapt

Former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister says Rio Ferdinand must come to terms with not playing every game for the Old Trafford club.

The United centre-half has made infrequent appearances in the league due to the presence of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson said recently he had explained the situation to the veteran defender.

Now Pallister believes the former Leeds United man must either come to terms with his position in the squad, or leave in search of regular football.

“Rio’s not finished by any stretch of the imagination,” Pallister told The Sunday Mirror.

“He is still a fantastic player. In fact, like Scholesy (Paul Scholes) and Giggsy (Ryan Giggs), he can be an important player for years at the club. But only if he accepts he can’t play every week. If he can’t accept that, he’ll have to move on.”

Pallister himself faced a similar dilemma at Old Trafford, and opted to make the move back to Middlesbrough before eventually retiring in 2001.

“It’s a similar situation to mine in that, despite winning nearly everything in nine years, the manager realises he has to rebuild,” he said.

“In my case, I was called into his office and told I had a year left on my contract. He said he’d like me to stay, but that he couldn’t guarantee me a starting place every week, what with (Jaap) Stam and (Wes) Brown coming through.”

“He said Boro wanted me – but he left it up to me to decide. I only went to Boro because that’s my boyhood team. I wouldn’t have left otherwise.”

“If Rio wants to start every match, he should go elsewhere. But if he accepts he’s not always playing, he should stay at United. I think he’ll accept that, as he loves the club and knows it’s a 24-man squad.”

“Like Rio, I had been there nine-and-a-bit years and won so much there. Perhaps he would have a longer career at the club if he quit England. But it’s up to him to decide that.”