Ferguson cleverly did not refer to “disciplining” Ferdinand when asked about the T-shirt issue following the Stoke game, muttering darkly that his player would be “dealt with”.

Such a threat covers a multitude of possibilities although, as the Professional Footballers' Association pointed out on Sunday, suggestions that Ferdinand could be fined lack any sort of credibility.

Ferdinand may just escape with a blast from the famous Ferguson “hair dryer”, a private dressing down possibly the only option left open to his manager, especially given the injury problems that still blight United at the centre-half positions.

Morally and practically, unless Ferdinand had misled his manager by guaranteeing he would wear the shirt and then doing the opposite, it was hard to support Ferguson’s position and insistence that denied the player the right to make his own decision over whether to wear the shirt.

Led by Jason Roberts, a number of leading black players including Ferdinand, wished to make their own statement about the FA punishment handed out to Terry after he racially abused Ferdinand’s brother Anton and also about the effectiveness of the “Kick It Out” campaign.

In truth, and despite Ferguson being a staunch supporter of the Kick Racism Out of Football movement, Ferdinand’s biggest crime was to make his manager look stupid by refusing to wear the T-shirt 24 hours after he guaranteed every United player would do so.

“It’s a free country but the manager did say in his press conference that all his players would be wearing the T-shirt,” said former United defender Viv Anderson, an early anti-racism activist and first black player to represent England.

“Rio chose not to do that and he’ll have to live with that and move on.”

“Move on” may prove to be the literal upshot of this contretemps, meaning that Ferdinand would follow the examples of other established United figureheads such as Roy Keane, David Beckham and Jaap Stam who have all left Old Trafford after a decline in their relationships with the manager.

In Ferdinand’s case, however, his skills and fitness are declining at a far more rapid rate than the aforementioned players. Badly at fault in United’s last home outing, a 3-2 loss to Tottenham, Ferdinand hardly covered himself in glory against Stoke, particularly for their second goal when Michael Kightly ran straight at and through the veteran, albeit enjoying a favourable bounce of the ball in the process.

But for the long-term injuries that have so cursed Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, the man ostensibly signed to ultimately replace Ferdinand permanently, it is not difficult to imagine that Ferdinand would have started this season as a bit-part player in United’s rotation.

As it is, Ferdinand will have some part yet to play in a season that is being dominated by United’s forwards.

After Rooney handed Stoke the lead with an own goal at a badly-defended free-kick, the England forward headed an equaliser, passed to Antonio Valencia whose cross was converted by Robin van Persie, then set up Danny Welbeck for a third. After Kightly’s goal, Rooney himself wrapped up the scoring from a scrappy corner.

With 21 goals in eight games, United are the division’s most prolific attacking force and the triple threat of Rooney, van Persie and Welbeck finding some ominous form.

“It’s going well – this was only the second or third time we have played in this formation and we can score from any angle,” said Van Persie.

“If you look at the goals [against Stoke], there are all sorts of different goals. In previous games, we have shown we can score from every angle. That’s a good sign and a weapon for us.”

Champions League watch

Braga, Tuesday

Last match: Braga 4 Olhanense 4
Jose Peseiro’s side boast a seven-match unbeaten run away from home in Europe and lie third in the Portuguese Liga heading into the Old Trafford game following their draw against Olhanense on Oct 7.