Champions League: Rio Ferdinand ruled out of tough trip to Shakhtar Donetsk for Manchester United

The defender has not flown with the squad to Ukraine

Rio Ferdinand pictured training alongside David Moyes (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed Rio Ferdinand is among the players who have not flown to Ukraine ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Moyes confirmed Ferdinand has picked up a slight groin strain, but that the 34-year-old would have missed the trip anyway.

"Rio has a slight groin problem," said the Scot.

"It is nothing serious but I was never bringing him anyway."

Moyes also confirmed Anderson, Fabio and Wilfried Zaha - who played in last night's Manchester Senior Cup win over Bolton - were also missing from Tuesday's flight.

At the weekend, Moyes appeared to suggest his side were not contenders for this season's competition because they did not have enough world class players.

However, the Scot is adamant United - who reached the final as recently as 2011 - would be giving their all in a bid to reach Lisbon in May.

"Of course we'll try to win the Champions League," he said.

"That's part of the job at Manchester United and I'll do everything I can to try to make that happen."

PA