Manuel Pellegrini’s opinion of Jack Wilshere is so high that it really would come as no surprise to see the midfielder plunged into action against Spurs at lunchtime.
He is the one player whom the manager has gone out of his way to draw attention to in highly positive terms since he signed him in the summer.
And he wasn’t slow to do so again ahead of the match this week when explaining again his love of technical players of which Jack, he claimed is one of the best, and a player who can change a game with his Premier League experience.
It suggests that in the absence of Samir Nasri he may surprisingly throw him into action for a game whichg would be a huge gamble given he has had just an hour of under 23 football behind him and eight minutes against Leicester last weekend.
It’s a truly tricky one to call because the manager never gives much away and has come up with surprising choices at various times this season.
We can’t truly believe the former Gooner will start but he is almost certain to feature in a game where some creative skills will be required to open up that Spurs defence.
He also has to decide whether he needs to double up on the left to placate the threat of Son and should Cresswell be fit that’s a possibility.
Our likely line up: Fab, Zaba , Balbuena, Diop; Masuaku; Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Antonio, Anderson, Arnautovic.
Should Pelle decide however that Wilshere gets a start then we expect Snodgrass to be the player affected.
I hope Wilshere doesn’t start, I think talking Noble off for him to get Cameo was mistake bd he just stayed fwd.
I think MP talks him up hoping he can be that box to box mid he once was but wvwn when he was dit he sint look great in CM or #10
Its Spurs you want Noble to play bc he always shows up for this game & Snodgrass has the passion & woekrate. Antonio too.
Not sure about Arnie… Chicharito actually has good record against Sours with us not with Man U but aciesd brace first game ivs Spud.
Some think Perez should get a go tho he looks good ofF bench. & hasn’t pkayee much.
If Naari was fit I’d be tempted to play Antonio up front .