Sir Alex Ferguson is waiting on
the results of a scan on Tom Cleverley's calf injury before finalising his Manchester United
side for Sunday's derby clash at
Manchester City. Antonio Valencia (hip) and Nani (hamstring) are definitely out,
while Ferguson does not think Shinji Kagawa and skipper Nemanja Vidic (both knee) will be available either. Anderson is also a major doubt with a hamstring injury.
Ahead of the game Sir Alex
Ferguson employed some of his
classic mind games by calling into
question City's penalty record.
"The number of penalty kicks they get - 21 in the last year or
something like that," said
Ferguson.
"If we got that number of
penalty kicks there'd be an
inquiry in the House of Commons. There'd be a protest."
Manchester City playmaker David Silva (hamstring) could return for the game.
Midfielder James Milner (hamstring) and left-back Gael Clichy (ankle) are also hoping to prove their fitness while
midfielder Yaya Toure returns to
the team after his midweek
European suspension.
Defender Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle) has been ruled out of
the clash at the Etihad Stadium,
leaving him on the sidelines with
right-back Micah Richards (knee). Ahead of the game Blues boss
Roberto Mancini was
characteristically playing down
his side's chances.
"They can lose because they
have three points more," said the City chief. "We have three
points less and we can't lose."
Yet, despite his side's status as
champions and the fact they
completed a Premier League
double over United last term, including that amazing 6-1 win at
Old Trafford, Mancini insists the
Reds are the favourites.
"They are better than us at this
moment," said Mancini.
"We have only been here for two years. They are used to playing
these games in the title race for
20 years. They have won
everything for 15 years.
"You can't change this in two or
three years. You need more time.
"For this reason they have a
small advantage." Manchester City (from):
Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, K Toure, Nastasic,
Nasri, Milner, Y Toure,
Barry, Garcia, Sinclair,
Silva, Aguero, Tevez,
Balotelli, Dzeko.
Manchester United (from): Lindegaard, De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand,
Buttner, Evra, Cleverley,
Giggs, Fletcher, Powell,
Scholes, Carrick, Young,
Hernandez, Welbeck,
Rooney, Van Persie. City league form: WWDWD
United league form: WLWWW
Key opponent: David Silva - if he's fit and on form he is
the man who makes City
tick - world class
Prediction: Manchester City
1 Manchester United 1 -
Fergie will have his troops well fired up after last
season and City are not in
great form.
What is your prediction for
the game? Have your say.