The Manchester United legend missed the semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao due to a health scare
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Rio Ferdinand is poised to return as a pundit for TNT Sport’s coverage of Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao after recovering from illness.
Ferdinand is back working for the broadcaster after a health scare saw him miss punditry duties at Old Trafford for the second leg of the semi-final against Athletic.
The former United defender revealed that he “thought the lights were out” at one point and that it was a “crazy” experience.
Tottenham vs Man United LIVE: Europa League final build-up and updates as Amorim confirms injury boost for Bilbao showdown
But after recovering from what he described as a “virus,” Ferdinand confirmed he is travelling to the Basque Country to cover his former side in action at the San Mames.
He wrote on social media on Tuesday: “Bilbao Bound. LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YANITED YANITED.”
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, days after being released from hospital, he said: "I thought the lights were out at some point, I thought it was gonna happen. I thought I was minutes away from lights out, seriously. I was in my house, I was in my bed like this [pained expression] and I couldn't even open my eyes.
"Then, the headache I had… I don't get migraines or nothing else so I don't know what they're like. I thought my head was in a vice and my eyes were going to pop out.
"Then, I was being sick, projectile vomiting in the toilet, I got back to bed and I was having vertigo. I was holding onto the sheets, I didn't know where I was. It was crazy.
"I had to go to hospital and the doctor even said to me, ‘Do you want an ambulance?’ So that's when I knew. He went, 'We're going to get your brain scanned'. I thought it was a virus or a flu or something so when he mentioned brain scan and the ambulance, the panic was nuts.
Rio Ferdinand working as a pundit for TNT Sportsopen image in gallery
Rio Ferdinand working as a pundit for TNT Sports (Action Images via Reuters)
"I went to hospital and I was in there for a few days. I couldn't even enjoy the hospital food. The soup and the ice cream normally does wonders."
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Ferdinand admitted he was “gutted” to miss the European semi-final coverage but ended up “watching every minute from the iPad.”
Ferdinand shared a picture of himself at the hospitalopen image in gallery
Ferdinand shared a picture of himself at the hospital (@rioferdy5)
The PA news agency reported Ferdinand was hospitalised by a sickness bug, which also affected other members of Ferdinand's family.
Ferdinand’s commentary of Manchester United’s dramatic victory against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals went viral as his former team staged a comeback in extra time.