MICHAEL Dawson today arrived at the England training camp in South Africa to replace Rio Ferdinand who has been forced out of the World Cup by a knee injury sustained in training yesterday.

Dawson, who abandoned his holiday plans fly out, said he has immense sympathy for Ferdinand but is determined to try to seize his England opportunity.

He said: “For Rio to get injured, there would be no worse feeling for him as a player.

“To miss the biggest tournament in the world as the captain, I feel for him

“I missed the Carling Cup Final in 2008, and there was nothing anyone could have said to me that could have made me feel any better.

“For Rio, the feeling will be the same, but it’s a chance for me now.”

Dawson, who was Tottenham’s player of the year, added: “I’ll just go there and train like I do every day at Spurs and we’ll have to see what happens.”

Meanwhile Rio Ferdinand considered himself “cursed” after the injury, his agent has revealed.

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Agent Pini Zahavi revealed the central defender’s devastation but backed Ferdinand to lead England in the 2014 World Cup.

Zahavi said: “Rio said: ‘I think somebody cursed me’’ That is honestly how he feels. Rio is very down. He cannot understand why this has happened to him.”

Zahavi added: “This injury is nothing to do with the ones he had before.

“It is completely different and it is very bad luck.Rio was feeling sharp and was ready for the World Cup.

“He has waited so long for this tournament and to try and help England win it. He had prepared himself so well. But he is a very strong man and he will be back.”

Fabio Capello has urged caution regarding the return to training of Gareth Barry.

But Capello is mindful that this is the “dangerous” period for Barry and is determined not to rush the comeback. The Italian said: “We are happy because he’s improving every day.”

Capello has been backed to handle all the pressure by Wolves boss Mick McCarthy.

“He’ll take it in his stride” said the Molineux boss today.

By James Short