Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand will miss Monday's Premier League clash with Middlesbrough after suffering a back spasm in the warm-up before the 1-0 win at Stoke City.

The England international had been named in the starting line-up for the Britannia Stadium encounter but had to withdraw shortly before kick-off, with Jonny Evans coming into the team to replace him.

The United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Rio won't play against Middlesbrough. He had a back spasm again.

"We have to get to the root of this. He's had this back problem too many times, so we want to get to the bottom of it.

"First of all, we'll give him complete rest, but I think he'll be okay in about ten days."