By Hughie Southon
And so, we look ahead to Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the hope that – like our under 18s – we can make as big an impact in the FA Cup as they have done at youth level.
It remains to be seen how seriously both teams take the game but there is probably more reasons for us doing so than the Mancs who are in the top four and looking at the Champions League as their priority,
We need to keep confidence flowing after a fine win over Forest and to advance to the next round would be an achievement in itself which the manager would want to place in his personal award ‘cabinet’ – if you get my meaning.
It will be fascinating to see what time of team he turns out given that we head for our bogey team on Saturday at Brighton and Hove Albion.
We can afford no more injuries and at the same time the manager should surely see the United game as one where serious offensive play is required.
I believe that Paqueta is approaching the stage where he could become a game changer but would save him for the game against the Seagulls at the weekend following our eight points from the last six games which included three in the “very tricky” category
Areola will take his place between the sticks and presumably Johnson will fill the right back role, given Coufal has an injured heel, with Aguerd, Oggy and Emerson handed the left back role given the need to attack down that side.
Declan will need to play alongside Tomas who had a decent game in an attacking midfield role yesterday and I hope that Pablo Fornals gets his chance with maybe Lanzini alongside the skipper in a deeper midfield role.
There’s plenty of options now up front and Ings is cup tied so we are likely to see Antonio in the one up role supported by Bowen.
Moyes has a balancing act to perform – fingers crossed he gets it right!
CandH team: Areola, Johnson, Aguerd, Oggy, Emerson; Rice, Lanzini, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Ings.