United intent on increasing lead over City
Ferguson expecting return of injured players.
Manchester United's coach Alex Ferguson says players “Young and Jones should be ok for today." PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
LONDON:
Manchester United will look to put even more daylight between themselves and Manchester City when they host West Bromwich Albion today, as the Premier League’s busy festive season continues.
Javier Hernandez’s last-minute winner against Newcastle left Ferguson beaming, and he will have more room to manoeuvre with his squad after injury and illness robbed him of key players against Newcastle. Wayne Rooney sat out the game after sustaining knee ligament damage in training that will keep him out for up to three weeks, but Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic could all return.
“Young and Jones should be ok for today,” said Ferguson. “I will also have Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher, who are fresh.”
Arsenal look to keep winning
Meanwhile, Santi Cazorla has warned Arsenal’s rivals that his midfield partnership with Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere is developing rapidly, ahead of today’s home game with Newcastle United.
The Gunners have strung together three successive Premier League wins, with the midfield trio starting together against West Brom, Reading and Wigan, and contributing a total of six goals.
“Every day that goes by, we understand each other better,” said Cazorla. “It is very easy for me to play with them. Mikel is more of a tactical player, a very important player in any side. And Jack is an amazing football player.”
As for Manchester City, Joe Hart has told teammates to forget about their defeat to Sunderland and focus on getting their title ambitions back on track at Norwich today.
“We’re a team of winners, it’s hard and it hurts but we’ve got to move on,” said Hart. “We have to go into the next game and give it our best as always.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2012.
Manchester United will look to put even more daylight between themselves and Manchester City when they host West Bromwich Albion today, as the Premier League’s busy festive season continues.
Javier Hernandez’s last-minute winner against Newcastle left Ferguson beaming, and he will have more room to manoeuvre with his squad after injury and illness robbed him of key players against Newcastle. Wayne Rooney sat out the game after sustaining knee ligament damage in training that will keep him out for up to three weeks, but Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic could all return.
“Young and Jones should be ok for today,” said Ferguson. “I will also have Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher, who are fresh.”
Arsenal look to keep winning
Meanwhile, Santi Cazorla has warned Arsenal’s rivals that his midfield partnership with Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere is developing rapidly, ahead of today’s home game with Newcastle United.
The Gunners have strung together three successive Premier League wins, with the midfield trio starting together against West Brom, Reading and Wigan, and contributing a total of six goals.
“Every day that goes by, we understand each other better,” said Cazorla. “It is very easy for me to play with them. Mikel is more of a tactical player, a very important player in any side. And Jack is an amazing football player.”
As for Manchester City, Joe Hart has told teammates to forget about their defeat to Sunderland and focus on getting their title ambitions back on track at Norwich today.
“We’re a team of winners, it’s hard and it hurts but we’ve got to move on,” said Hart. “We have to go into the next game and give it our best as always.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2012.