Word in some quarters on Twitter tonight I’m told (I don’t go there personally) is that both Mikey Antonio and Declan Rice could be rested for tomorrow game at Old Trafford.
Antonio looks a certain non starter as we suggested earlier today with David Moyes saying he will face a late test to see how fatigued he may be after the Fulham game.
The more likely explanation is that he felt his hamstring and the boss needs him fit for the Sheffield United game.
From the moment the manager threw the fatigue suggestion into the presser earlier today it has becoming increasingly speculated that the No 30 will be out of the game.
Rice’s position however is somewhat different and the thought that he may be rested probably springs from the fact that the manager did so against Doncaster Rovers in the fourth round. However, this game is a tad more difficult!
With Moyes making it clear he was hoping for an early result of Tomas Soucek’s appeal in order to make his plans it would surprising if he didn’t play him with Declan alongside .
The manager has made it clear how much he wants to win an FA Cup and such claims would look a little odd were he to field a team at Old Trafford without his main striker AND his current captain.
What I like about your post Hugh is you and I don’t really know who is playing, Moyes is all about “smoke & mirrors”, so our opponent’s are in exactly the same position, trying to work out who will play!
Know one knows who will play yet but if I was going to rest anybody it would be rice. Rice plays more minutes than every other player. There’s no doubt he could do with a rest at some point. I think maybe I would rather rest him against Sheffield Utd but none of us know how fatigued rice is or whether he’s carrying a knock even.
Rice has been looking shattered the last couple of games, we have 5 days off after this cup tie so I hope he isn’t rested until afterwards, if Antonio’s hamstring needs resting then so be it but imho Rice is needed as Noble is clearly not on the pace required possibly because he has been out of the side for so long or possibly just because he lacks the energy levels to close players down in the way Moyes would like to see it done.