Manchester United vs Norwich City
Capital One Cup, Fourth Round – Tuesday 29th October, 2013 (19:45 KO BST)– Old Trafford, Manchester
The Teams
United
Patrice Evra ahead of the Fourth Round tie: “It’s an important trophy for us and a brilliant competition to play in. And it’s one we always want to win.”
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David Moyes is expected to make several changes from the side which came back to beat Stoke at the weekend.
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Wilfried Zaha, who has yet to feature in competitive action this season, could be set to make his first appearance.
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“He is very much in my plans and in my thoughts all the time,” David Moyes said this week.
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With Robin van Persie likely to be rested, as he was for the Third Round victory over Liverpool, Javier Hernandez should start up front.
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Adnan Januzaj, who came off the bench to such great effect against Stoke, could come back into the side.
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Anderson, Alex Buttner and Ashley Young, on the fringes of the first team this season, will all hope to be involved.
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Marouane Fellaini is cup-tied and will play no part.
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A strong U-21 side was fielded on Monday night suggesting very few of the younger players will be involved.
Predicted line-up: Lindegaard, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner, Valencia, Jones, Anderson, Young, Januzaj, Hernandez
Home record vs Norwich: P30 W19 D7 L4 F52 A17
Norwich
Canaries manager Chris Hughton ahead of the game: “We’re taking a very good following and we have to appreciate our supporters who have to travel all that way. We’re delighted about that, so we’ll be looking to win this game.”
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Have beaten Bury (6-3) and Watford (3-2) to reach this stage of the competition.
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Slipped into the Premier League relegation zone after Saturday’s 0-0 home draw against Cardiff.
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Mark Bunn will have his fitness assessed, as will Alex Tettey who took a knock to the ankle at the weekend.
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Summer signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel is also a doubt with an ongoing toe complaint.
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Elliott Bennett remains sidelined with an injury to his knee.
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Josh Murphy, an Under-19 England international, will be involved after impressing from the bench in their Third Round win over Watford.
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Hughton suggested there will be several changes from the weekend ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.
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“I will use the squad… Yes there will be some changes,” he said.
Predicted line-up: Bunn, Martin, Whittaker, Bennett, Garrido, Johnson, Redmond, Olsson, Tettey, Hoolahan, Hooper
Previous meetings at Old Trafford
United 4-0 Norwich (02-02-13)
United 2-0 Norwich (01-10-11)
United 2-1 Norwich (21-08-04)
United 1-0 Norwich (03-12-94)
United 2-2 Norwich (04-12-93)
Officials
Referee: Kevin Friend.
The 42-year-old referee has taken charge of 5 Premier League fixtures so far this season, brandishing 17 yellow cards. He has awarded 2 penalties. He oversaw Manchester City’s Third Round win over Wigan in this season’s League Cup. Was last seen by United fans during March’s 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Assistants: Harry Lennard, John Flynn.
Fourth Official: Graham Salisbury.
Notes
United have won ten of the last eleven League Cup ties played at Old Trafford.
Norwich have scored nine goals in their two League Cup games this season.
United have won the competition four times – 1992, 2006, 2009 and 2010.
The Canaries have been knocked out of the League Cup eight times out of a possible nine when they have travelled away from home to face a side in the same division.
Score prediction: United 3-1 Norwich
