Sir Alex Ferguson admits Rio Ferdinand may miss out on the Champions League final should he not be fit enough to face Hull at the weekend.

Ferdinand has missed Manchester United’s last three games because of a calf injury that he sustained in his side’s European semi-final triumph over Arsenal.

Ferguson will no doubt have his starting XI to face Barcelona on May 27 etched on his mind and is unlikely to include any of them for the Premier League denouement on Sunday.

However, in a fillip for relegation-concerned Newcastle fans, it seems that Ferdinand could be given a run out in a bid to allow him to prove his fitness.

"I am hoping he will be fit for Sunday, if not he is doubtful for Wednesday that is for sure," said Ferguson.

"I think he needs a game going into the Champions League final because him having not played for three weeks is too much.

"The plan is for him to start training with us tomorrow and once we get football training we will have a better idea of his availability for Sunday.

"I think he is probably fit to play Wednesday but whether I would start him without a game is another matter."