MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes is expected to recall a number of big names for the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Sunderland. Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and David de Gea are all set to return after sitting out Sundayâs shock FA Cup home defeat by Swansea. Robin van Persie (thigh) and Phil Jones (knee) are unlikely to be involved. Marouane Fellaini (wrist), Ashley Young (shoulder) and Nani (hamstring) are definitely out, Fabio starts a three-match ban and Rio Ferdinand faces a spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee at the weekend. Team (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Smalling, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Buttner, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Carrick, Cleverley, Fletcher, Kagawa, Zaha, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, Januzaj.
Having lost their last two games across two different competitions, Manchester United need to turn things around against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup, so David Moyes is expected to field a strong line-up in the semi-final encounter. talkSPORT takes a look at how United could set-up in a game that could be vital should they hope to finish the season with silverware… Vidic returns The United centre-back is due to return to the fold after sitting out the Red Devils’ FA Cup exit at the hands of Swansea. The Serb is likely to be partnered by Jonny Evans, while Chris Smalling and the returning Patrice Evra are the likely full-back pairing. Giggs in the middle Asking Darren Fletcher to start a second game in succession may be a big ask, so Ryan Giggs could be handed a place in midfield, while Michael Carrick is also likely to return having not made an appearance since United’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Spurs. Ahead of them, Shinji Kagawa may be handed a rare chance to play in his preferred number 10 role if Moyes wishes to avoid rushing Wayne Rooney back into the thick of things after his injury issues, while an even rarer opportunity could be given to Wilfried Zaha. Adnan Januzaj, who scored a brace in his last appearance against Sunderland, will likely get a look in. Welbeck, Hernandez, or Rooney? Wayne Rooney would normally be an obvious choice to return and add some quality to the United fold against Sunderland, but with the striker struggling due to injury problems as noted above, Moyes may be reticent to rush him in for the cup game, conscious of this Saturday’s Premier League clash with Swansea. Javier Hernandez managed to get on the score sheet for United against the Swans in the FA Cup, but with five goals in his last six starts for the club, Danny Welbeck is the more likely of United’s forwards to start should Rooney only make a sub appearance.
SUNDERLAND were today handed a huge boost ahead of their Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester United with the news that defensive trio John O’Shea, Valentin Roberge and ?? Diakite are all fit for the game. The three centre-halves missed the FA Cup win over Carlisle United yesterday, meaning Gus Poyet had to field midfielder Ki Sung-yeung alongside Wes Brown. But the Sunderland boss today revealed O’Shea, Roberge and Diakite are all fit and in contention for tomorrow’s game at the Stadium of Light. Brown is also fit and available for the clash against his former team after playing 90 minutes on his return from suspension.
I doubt Rooney will start (thankfully) might see him come off the bench. Hope we can get a 2 goal lead to take to OT, but the most important thing is we're still in the tie come the second leg
He's thrown everything into the league but his players have let him down ............ whatever he throws at us we just have to combat it and throw stuff back.
-----------------Mannone------------------ Celustka----Diakite---Roberge--Bardsley ---------Cattermole--Colback------------- Borini--------------Ki-----------Giaccherini ------------------Fletcher------------------- Id save Oshea and Brown for the crucial game at Fulham
They're hardly worn out tbh .............. they've only played 1 game between them and there's 4 days rest before Saturday.
