Tomas Soucek may not learn of his Old Trafford fate until Tuesday afternoon which makes team selection issues tricky for David Moyes.
West Ham are expecting the Football Association Appeals committee to hear the red card objection on Tuesday afternoon following yesterday’s decision by ‘referee’ Mike Dean – note the inverted quotation marks.
And ClaretandHugh has learned that most inside the club are convinced the card must be overturned which would allow the Czech midfielder to play a part in the fifth round FA Cup tie.
Now that the appeal has been lodged with the FA Soucek would be allowed to play in the FA Cup if the hearing cannot be heard in time.
There has not been one public defence of Dean who took three minutes looking at the so-called offence before dragging a red card from his pocket – as seems to be the regular case with the guy.
It became the 21st red of the season and quite probably the least deserved for a man who has never been sent off in his career until finding Dean in the middle.
Put Soucek on the first team roster for the FA Cup match.
Southampton sent a message about Dean after their second red card by not kicking off until a yellow for time wasting was served. Do the same at Old Trafford.