Rio Ferdinand (No.6) underwent knee surgery (AlexLivesey/Allsport)

The Manchester United and England centre half is certain to miss Monday's Premiership clash with Everton at Old Trafford.

And United's £30million buy from Leeds seems set to also miss England's opening two Euro 2004 qualifiers.

England tackle Slovakia in Bratislava next Saturday and are at home to Macedonia on Tuesday week.

United's next Premiership fixture after the Everton game is against Fulham at Loftus Road on October 19 and it remains to be seen whether Ferdinand will be fit in time to make a comeback then.

United confirmed tonight that 23-year-old Ferdinand had undergone the operation.

Last week United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that Ferdinand was struggling with an injury to his right knee.

Ferguson told the Sunday People: 'The problem has been bothering Rio for some time now and we have decided to have the operation now to leave him free for as much of the season as possible.'

The blow of losing Ferdinand will be tempered by the impressive form of young Irish centre-half John O'Shea.

Ferguson added: 'The presence of Rio has been very important to us and we will miss him. When you put his experience alongside Laurent Blanc I think there is an assurance there, but the good thing for us is that the boy O'Shea is catching Rio fast.

'I've found myself recently saying to myself 'am I being fair to the boy by leaving him out on his form at the moment?'

'There's no doubt Ferdinand and Blanc have given us a solid look about us. We are confident on the ball and it has worked well, but John will get his chance and I know he won't let anyone down.'

While the timing of Ferdinand's operation suits United, because there is a break in the Premiership programme coming up, it could not be worse for England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Had United delayed the operation, Ferdinand is certain to have faced Slovakia and Macedonia - probably alongside Arsenal's Sol Campbell.

Now Eriksson is facing going into England's two opening Euro 2004 qualifiers without his best performer at the World Cup finals.

In Ferdinand's absence England are likely to turn to Gareth Southgate as a partner for Campbell while Leeds' Jonathan Woodgate, who is expected to return from injury against Aston Villa tomorrow, another contender.

Football Association spokesman Paul Newman told the News of the World: 'We knew nothing about this but a knee injury is a knee injury.