Big brother is watching

Ferdinand academy
Janice Lavender Ferdinand may not have a coaching badge to her name, but the proud mother can claim to be every bit as productive as the average English football academy, having groomed not one but two Premiership footballers - Rio and Anton Ferdinand.

Record fee
Although the brothers began their careers at West Ham, the elder of the two - Rio - now plies his trade for United and England. A stylish central defender who rose to international prominence at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 27-year-old excelled at both Upton Park and Leeds United AFC before securing a British-record €46.9m move to United in 2002 and only recently signed a new contract until 2009.

Brotherly love
Third in the Premiership, United have not had the best of starts to their 2005/06 UEFA Champions League campaign and could go out in the group stage for the first time in a decade should they fail to beat SL Benfica on Matchday 6. But worries aside, Ferdinand will be keen to put one over his sibling who is seven years his junior and whom he still contacts on a regular basis with both abuse and advice.

International debut
As well as boasting similar good looks, centre-back Anton shares the same elegance, poise and loping stride and, although he is yet to graduate to the full international set-up, he has made his bow for the England Under-21s.

Recent promotion
Perhaps the only area in which Anton has the edge is in this season's goalscoring stakes. Ferdinand Jr has gone in front thanks to his strike at Tottenham Hotspur FC last weekend, as eighth-placed West Ham continued their strong opening to the Premiership campaign following promotion in May.

Winning bet
"Rio is not the best in front of goal," Anton said. "I sent him a text after the Tottenham game to say I was 1-0 up and am confident of winning the bet now - especially because Rio has not scored in ages." The 20-year-old also admitted, however, that he would rather be considered his "own man". His manager, Alan Pardew, seems to have similar ideas having been overheard instructing Anton to change his hair in a bid to curb comparisons.

Academy graduates
One man with every right to compare the two is Peter Brabrook, who saw them develop at the West Ham academy. An FA Cup winner with the Hammers in 1964, and now a scout for the London club, Brabrook said: "They are a lovely family. It will be a fantastic occasion for them. As players, Rio and Anton were similar as youngsters - both good footballers with very good pace."

Neat and tidy
As a West Ham employee, Brabrook will doubtless want to see Anton triumph over his big brother on Sunday. But at the head of the 35-strong Ferdinand entourage expected to descend on Upton Park, the decision is not so easy for Mrs Ferdinand. Maybe it is best she keeps mum on this occasion.