Ray Stewart: Season must not fade away via injuries

ClaretandHugh’s exclusive blogger Ray ‘Tonka’ Stewart is watching David Moyes slip into his first real injury problems of the season and discusses how he might fond a way through the problems that hit him at Old Trafford.

By Ray Stewart

News that Oggy will be missing for two or three games is bad news for Moysie and the team and oddly I think it will be the Sheffield United match which could be the one where will suffer from his absence. The Blades are gonna be a tough uncompromising lot who will be piling it into the middle as they fight for their lives. Oggy will be missed.

However, Craig Dawson has been in great form and assuming all’s well with Balbuena he’s a very good player.

Moysie has inherited a small squad and although he admits he prefers it that way, injuries to two of them with Diop unlikely to be available under the concussion rule, presents problems. One thing is for sure, despite the great start to the season we need some more points on the board. With the Blades Spuds and Man City in front of us we need to be at out best.

Hopefully we will get Oggy back more quickly than expected because although you can get away with changed formations through injury for two or three games, clubs aren’t slow in seeing the differences and possible weaknesses and quickly take advantage.

I understand Mikey Antonio will be back for Monday night but it now seems as though Yarmolenko could be out until the summer. He did a kind of job at Old Trafford but he’s not really a striker and I want to see Benrahma or Lingard being used up there when Antonio may not be available.

The lad I really felt sorry for was young Odubeko who never got into things at Old Trafford and really looked upset when he was subbed. Moysie did what many wanted in giving him his chace but had to be strong in bringing him off when it was clear things weren’t working for him.

There was a case for going with Benrahma and as I say he and Lingard would be my choices so you have to feel sorry for the kid although it’s a debut he will never forget – his former club at Old Trafford. That’s some start.

It’s been such a good season it would be a real shame to see it start fading away via injuries.

Ray was talking to Hughie Southon