David Moyes appears to have many options for this afternoon’s game against Watford despite the continuing absence of key man Manu Lanzini.
We understand that for the first time in several games he is in a position to select a squad which is made up almost entirely of regular first teamers as the injury crisis starts to clear.
We have been told that despite the manager saying during his press conference yesterday that Winston Reid has been suffering from a throat problem this week, he is available for selection and has been included in the squad.
Both Michael Antonio and Marko Arnautovic are also included with the Hammer of the Year likely to start and the club’s record signing featuring at some stage.
Seventeen senior players are know are involved are: Adrian, Hart, Zabaleta, Fonte, Collins, Reid, Evra, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Byram, Rice , Noble, Kouyate, Mario, Arnautovic, Chicharito, Hugitt.
The squad offers the possibility of the manager deploying Mario in the Lanzini role alongside either Antonio or Arnautovich with probably Cresswell playing down the left for the suspended Masuaku and Evra taking on the defensive role.
If Moyes does his analysis from the Brighton game then he will drop both Byran and Noble for this game. I would move Zaba back to his normal position. I love Noble but he was legless last weekend against Brighton. I would go 3-5-2 with the following team or something similar. Adrian, Zaba, Reid, Ogbanna, Collins, Cresswell, Rice, Kouyate, Mario (10), Antonio/Arnie and Chico.