Sir Alex Ferguson believes a rejuvenated Rio Ferdinand should go to the Euro 2012 finals this summer.

Ferguson says his 33-year-old centre-back has been the key to Manchester United's march towards a 20th League Championship title.

United have hunted down rivals Manchester City with seven straight domestic victories, and Ferdinand, written off in some circles earlier this season, playing in every one of them.

Rio's roar: Ferdinand celebrates Manchester United's win over Blackburn

The United boss said recently he expected six of his players - Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley, Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones - to be in the England squad.

Now, he has added Ferdinand, who has had calf, hamstring and back problems for the past three years, to the list.

Ferguson said: 'Rio has had to change his game. He can't rely on his pace the way he used to as a kid. He was such a pure athlete and he was so mobile he could outrun anyone.

'He used to take advantage of that. He can't do that now so his positioning has improved and he plays a bit deeper than he used to.

'Now his experience is a vital part of his game. He has gone a long way to helping Jonny Evans come on and the young keeper [David de Gea], too.

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