Rio Ferdinand names Man Utd hero who would have improved four players if he played more for his country

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Ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand has identified one of his former Manchester United teammates who should have played more times for his country on the international stage.

Ferdinand played for England at the 2002 World Cup and 2006 World Cup, with the United legend earning 81 caps for the Three Lions during his playing career.

The TNT Sports pundit was part of England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation,’ which failed to win any major silverware despite the stacked talent in the squad.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand already admitted that he was surprised at how one “strong” and “quick” United hero didn’t play for England more times.

The 45-year-old ex-United defender also believed that one of his former club teammates would “100 per cent” start for England now if he still played football.

However, Ferdinand identified another ex-United teammate who was overlooked for England and how he could have improved four players for the Three Lions.

READ MORE: Ex-England striker had ‘two opportunities’ to sign for Man Utd, including when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge

Ferdinand on ex-England teammate Owen Hargreaves

Owen Hargreaves, who signed for United in 2007 after leaving Bayern Munich, made his senior England debut when Sven-Goran Eriksson was head coach of the country.

But the 42-year-old ex-United midfielder faced stiff competition in the Three Lions’ starting XI and only managed 42 appearances for England.

Ferdinand has now claimed that Hargreaves, much like former United teammate Michael Carrick, should have featured more for England in his career.

“Owen Hargreaves is another one. Playing for Bayern Munich, winning Champions League, winning Bundesligas, then comes to England,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE.

“Does the same thing [with United]… he would have been another one. If it wasn’t Michael Carrick, [then] it should have been him. He was playing all the time.

“Because, again, I think he makes other players better around him. He makes [David] Beckham better, he would have made — if he played alongside him — Scholsey [Paul Scholes], [Steven] Gerrard, [Frank] Lampard [better] because he is a different player to those players.

“His profile is very different, just like Carrick’s is from those four players.”

Ferdinand is right on Hargreaves and Carrick

Ferdinand, in hindsight, is right about his assessment of Hargreaves and Carrick, both of whom would have offered England more midfield versatility at that time.

Playing United legend Paul Scholes, Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard and Chelsea hero Frank Lampard together didn’t yield the result that England fans had hoped it would.

Scholes, known for his remarkable midfield influence, was forced out on the left for England and lacked the same impact that he would have at Old Trafford.

It became apparent that the Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard dynamic was lacking the influence of a deep-lying midfielder to help control the tempo for England.

Both Hargreaves and Carrick, if not at least one of them, would no doubt have altered the dynamic for England had they played more for the Three Lions.