London 2012 Olympics: Ryan Giggs given Team GB green light by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson Ferguson has voiced his concerns over the potential loss of up to 12 first-team players to the Olympics, which coincide with pre-season preparations ahead of the 2012-13 season. With Rooney set to play at Euro 2012 and Evans facing summer foot surgery, their ineligibility was already known, while Ferdinand, Carrick and Scholes had not been expected to be involved in Pearce's squad. Hernández, who is expected to be picked in place of the injured Welbeck at Sunderland on Sunday, had been due to play at London 2012 after being named as one of three over-aged players in the Mexican squad. But Hector González Iñárritu, the director of national teams at the Mexican FA, has claimed that Ferguson blocked Hernandez's call-up for the Olympics following lengthy discussions this week. "We had a lengthy discussion of two hours and Ferguson explained that he was sorry, but Chicharito would be overworked," he said. After that, we sent a letter, but the response was the same - Ferguson refused to allow Chicharito to participate in the Olympics. But we accept the decision of the club because they protect the player and his club. Having scored 20 goals in 45 games during his first season at United following a £7 million transfer from Chivas de Guadalajara, Hernández had been expected to build on his debut campaign by forging a strike partnership with Wayne Rooney this term. But a pre-season head injury, sustained while on the summer tour of the United States, delayed Hernández's start to the campaign and subsequent injuries have also taken their toll on the 23 year-old. Hernández has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, but having played for Mexico at the 2010 World Cup and then last summer's successful Gold Cup campaign, Ferguson insists that the decision to withdraw him from the Olympics is based on the player requiring a rest. "His form last season was fantastic," Ferguson said. But he's found the second year more difficult. A lot of that is down to not having a summer break for three years and playing every summer for his country. But next year he will be fine as we have agreed with the Mexican Football Association that he is going to get the requisite rest that he needs to perform in the Premier League.