Manchester United Looking for Win Number 15
- By Lewis Doe on January 31, 2011 08:33 GMT
Manchester United host Aston Villa as the Premier League gets back to action with a range of mid-week fixtures.
United come off the back of a very good 2-1 win against Southampton over the weekend in the FA Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to restore his full strength team for this Premier League tie and only one or two players from the match against The Saints are likely to retain their places.
Edwin Van Der Saar, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Rafael Da Silva should all return to the United back line after missing the FA Cup contest. The only worry is over Rafael who suffered a slight concussion during the recent win at Blackpool and the Brazilian may not be risked. Wes Brown should start if this is the case.
Paul Scholes is likely to keep his place in the middle of the pitch providing he is fit enough. The experience that Scholes possesses was crucial during the match against Southampton and Ferguson will know that he needs a calm figure in the middle of the field against a talented Aston Villa side.
Park Ji-Sung is now back with United after playing in the Asian Cup for South Korea. However, the form of Nani and Ryan Giggs down the flanks of the team has very good. Ferguson has always been a manager who has never changed a winning combination and Park may have to settle for a place on the bench against Aston Villa.
It will be very difficult for Ferguson to drop Mexican striker Javier Hernandez but Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov can expect to return to the side at the expense of the Mexican and Michael Owen. Rooney and Berbatov have forged a successful relationship in attack and Ferguson will be desperate for Rooney to score a goal.
The only major injury worries that United have are confined to the long-term treatment room. Ferguson confirmed last week that Antonio Valencia is recovering well from a broken and dislocated ankle and is not too far away from a return to possible reserves action. Owen Hargreaves cannot get over hamstring and knee problems and it now seems likely he’ll be released at the end of the season.
In terms of formation the team should stick with a 4-4-2 as this has been very successful in United’s unbeaten season so far. Aston Villa do have the pace and skill to make a 4-5-1 a favourable way for Ferguson to line up his team but United will be looking to attack from the off with a system the club is confident with.
