Fergie signals end for Man Utd's Rio?

Time may be up for a host of ageing English Premier League stars.

From John Terry ‘slip sliding’ away to now, the once unmoveable, Rio Ferdinand.

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Rio Ferdinand he must change his game after losing his pace.

Ferdinand returns to the Manchester United line-up in the Champions League tonight, but was left out of the last England squad and Ferguson said the centreback was missing his “electric yard”.

“Rio is almost 33 and has obviously lost the yard of pace he had five years ago,” said Ferguson, who has been ruthless in the past in discarding players he feels are past their best.

“But that doesn’t mean he can’t tailor his game in a different way. The way he used to rely on his pace, he can’t do that now. We’ve all faced that decisive moment in a career when you have to realise you have to change your game.I did it myself as a player when I lost my sharpness and tailored my game differently – and Rio will do the same. If he does he will be fine.”