adminfestive season continues.
Speaking prior to the Christmas period, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had set his players the modest target of being top of the standings on New Year’s Day, but his side are already disappearing towards the horizon.
Wednesday’s thrilling 4-3 win at home to Newcastle United left the 19-time champions seven points clear, and with second-place City facing a difficult trip to Norwich City, United could stretch their advantage by disposing of West Brom.
Javier Hernandez’s last-minute winner against Newcastle left Ferguson beaming, and he will have more room to manoeuvre with his squad after injury and illness robbed him of key players against Newcastle.
Wayne Rooney sat out the game after sustaining knee ligament damage in training that will keep him out for up to three weeks, but Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic could all return.
“Ashley Young also got injured on Tuesday and Phil Jones got injured (in the 1-1 draw) against Swansea,” said Ferguson.
“They should both be OK for Saturday, and I will also have Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher, who are fresh.
“We couldn’t risk Vida (against Newcastle) after playing his first game (at Swansea). He had a bit of soreness in his knee, which is only to be expected after being out for so long.”
Hernandez is hoping his goal-scoring heroics in mid-week will earn him a place in Ferguson’s side for today’s meeting with West Bromwich Albion.
The Mexican forward scored his sixth league goal of the campaign in just his fourth Premier League start this season to earn United three points in the dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday.
But even if Welbeck is fit, Hernandez feels he has done enough to prove he should start alongside Robin van Persie.
Hernandez said: “You can ask all the players in the world and they will tell you they want to start every game. But when you are at the biggest club in the world, you have competition.
“You have to be aware as well, there are five strikers here who want to be part of the game. The only thing I need to do is prove I am ready, in one minute or 90 minutes.”
United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks Hernandez is a threat because he never gives up.
“You don’t mind your forwards missing chances as long as they’e always in there getting the chances,” he said.
“He doesn’t put his head down when he misses, he’s always got that will and desire to get in there and be there to make that mistake. You get your rewards sometimes, and he did that today (Wednesday).”
Centre-back Vidic was rested against Newcastle and is set to return against West Brom as United look to shore up a leaky defence.
Ferguson’s men have conceded 28 goals already this term — just five short of the total for the whole of last season — but still have a seven-point advantage at the top of the Premier League. Ferdinand said: “The lead means nothing. We’ve been in this position over the years, when we’ve been eight, nine, 10, 11 clear and not gone on to win it.
“And we’ve been in positions of being behind and gone on to win it. So Newcastle was a great result for us but we have another big game coming up in a couple of days.”
West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt has set his sights on finding the net on a more regular basis after scoring his first league goal of the campaign in his side’s 2-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday.
“It has been a frustrating season for me as I’ve been in and out of the team with injuries,” said Brunt. I’ve had a few games recently but a goal has been a long time coming and I’m delighted to have got one.
“The gaffer (Steve Clarke) had a bit of a joke with me the other day about me not scoring enough goals — but I knew he meant it!
“I try to get shots on target from outside the box and I knew as soon as I’d hit it that I’d hit it well enough for it to go in.
“Obviously, getting the three points is the main thing, but I’m pleased I got a goal.”
Albion have now earned two straight victories ahead of the daunting trip to Old Trafford.
“We went off track a little bit with three successive defeats, but now we’re unbeaten in three and we’ve won our last two,” added Brunt.
“It’s very important in this league to pick up back-to-back wins.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s title defence was dealt a potentially decisive blow in a 1-0 loss at Sunderland on Wednesday, and today’s opponents, Norwich, have been beaten at home just twice all season.
Fixtures (all 5pm unless otherwise stated)
Today: Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur (2:45pm), Fulham v Swansea City, Reading v West Ham United, Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic, Stoke City v Southampton, Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City v Manchester City, Arsenal v Newcastle United (7:30pm)
Tomorrow: Everton v Chelsea (3:30pm), Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool (6pm)
English Premier League table
P W D L F A Pts
Man Utd 19 15 1 3 48 28 46
Man City 19 11 6 2 34 16 39
Chelsea 18 10 5 3 37 17 35
Tottenham 19 10 3 6 34 25 33
Everton 19 8 9 2 32 23 33
West Brom 19 10 3 6 28 23 33
Arsenal 18 8 6 4 32 18 30
Stoke 19 6 10 3 18 14 28
Swansea 19 6 7 6 27 23 25
Liverpool 19 6 7 6 28 26 25
Norwich 19 6 7 6 20 28 25
West Ham 18 6 5 7 22 22 23
Sunderland 19 5 7 7 20 24 22
Fulham 19 5 6 8 29 34 21
Newcastle 19 5 5 9 23 30 20
Aston Villa 19 4 6 9 15 36 18
Southampton 18 4 4 10 23 34 16
Wigan Athletic 19 4 3 12 19 35 15
Reading 19 1 7 11 21 37 10
QPR 19 1 7 11 16 33 10 — AFP.
Online Reporter