Alex Ferguson furious with Stuart Pearce for revealing details of Phil Jones injury

Manchester United defenders was said to have shingles

Phil Jones (GETTY IMAGES)

Sir Alex Ferguson has declared his intention to “address” the issue of Manchester United injury information being released by the Football Association.

Ferguson was irritated earlier this season when Roy Hodgson revealed Ashley Young's absence from an England squad was due to a knee injury the United boss did not want to become public knowledge.

And this week England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce explained Phil Jones' absence from his squad to face Sweden was due to a bout of shingles.

That should have kept Jones out of Sunday's Premier League encounter with Everton at Old Trafford.

However, Ferguson has confirmed the defender will be available.

Of far more concern though is the wider issue of his players' injuries being disclosed elsewhere.

"It's obviously something we have to address," said Ferguson.

"We're disappointed in Stuart Pearce coming out and declaring Phil had shingles. We thought that was doctor confidence.

"You hope these things don't happen but it's difficult. We're dealing with a big unit at the FA now. News can leak out and it's spread about too many places.

"In this case it was in confidence with their doctor and they should have made sure it didn't go any further.

"Thankfully, it is not anything serious. It's a mild condition but he should be okay."

It is the latest in a series of confrontations Ferguson has had with the FA, including his current misconduct charge for comments made about assistant referee Simon Beck at Tottenham last month.

The FA have elected not to respond on the matter.

PA