Anton Ferdinand has claimed that his older brother, Rio Ferdinand, will return stronger for the criticism he has endured recently.

The older Ferdinand, who plays for Manchester United, has come under fire for his subpar displays in recent matches, after coming back from a torn thigh muscle early in the season. The centreback is now out with a calf injury.

"I know my brother and he'll come back stronger than ever," Anton told the Sunderland Echo.

"People are doubting him for the World Cup, it's astonishing - he's been England's best player at the last two."

The Sunderland defender believes that his sibling is being slammed now due to the impossibly high standards that he has been performing at in the last few years.

"This is the first time he's had a bad period since he left West Ham. For a player who has played so many big games to only have one bad patch in a ten or eleven year period says something.

"He's one of the best, he knows this would always happen. The minute he doesn't play well people will jump on his back.

"It does hurt you when people say these things, but it is just ammo for Rio."