Reds' Ronaldo plea

11/13/2006 8:48:00 AM, Report by Ben Hibbs



Sir Alex Ferguson has pleaded with Portugal not to play Cristiano Ronaldo if he is not 100 per cent fit.

The 21-year-old winger was forced off in the dying stages of United's 1-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday after being on the end of a hefty challenge.

Portugal play Kazakhstan in a European Championship Group A qualifier on Wednesday, but Sir Alex's view is that Luiz Felipe Scolari has a squad capable of coping with the challenge.

"Cristiano has got an ankle knock, but he (Scolari) will decide in the best interests of the boy and the team," Sir Alex said.

"It's against Kazakhstan so you would have thought Portugal could handle that without Ronaldo but if he's got one of these injuries which is 50-50 I hope he doesn't play."

The concern is that Portugal, fifth in Group A and six points behind group leaders Serbia after a relatively poor start to the campaign, will be desperate to beat Kazakhstan - only two points behind the Portuguese.

Gary Neville has already been ruled out of England's qualifying match with Holland this week - the United skipper suffered a recurrence of the calf injury that has blighted him for months and had to be substituted at half time against Blackburn.