Strongest Manchester United line-up To Face Stoke City In Capital One Cup – Anderson And Fletcher To Start?

Stoke City host Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium in the Capital One Cup Quarter final encounter on Wednesday night. The Red Devils have perhaps ended their recent struggles in the Premier League having produced a sublime 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday. Danny Welback scored a brace while Tom Cleverley grabbed the third as the Premier League’s defending Champions finally showed their mettle and signs of recovery. Stoke meanwhile come into the game after a frustrating scoreless draw against Hull City in the weekend which saw them drop to 13^thin the Premier League table.

While David Moyes’ side will now face Olympiakos in the last 16 of the Champions League as the draw revealed on Monday, but have to take care of Stoke first, in order to bid for any silverware this campaign. These same two teams last met in a feisty encounter in the Premier League, which United managed to somehow beat the Potters by the slimmest of margins (3-2) in a fascinating match. Stoke, hence will be up for the challenge and their vociferous set of supporters will surely cheer their home team in a hostile Britannia stadium, in a chilly December night.

Moyes is expected to drop some of his regular starters and will be keen to give his fringe players some game time, however he has to take care of the numerous injuries the squad currently has including star striker Robin Van Persie and Mexican Javier Hernandez to the ever growing list of names on the United treatment table. Elsewhere midfielder Darren Fletcher made his first league appearance for the Red Devils in almost a year after recovering from a chronic bowel condition, which gives Moyes an additional option to look into.

So what will be United’s starting eleven against Stoke?

Goalkeeper:

David De Gea is expected to get a breather as Danish Goalkeeper, Andres Lindegaard is sure to take his position under the post manning the United goal. Lindegaard hasn’t featured much in recent months and will be eager to prove a point or two to Moyes to claim for a starting eleven spot for himself in the coming future.

Defence:

Expect Rafael to start in the right back spot with his twin brother Fabio on the left. Moyes might well go for Buttner maybe as well, but when it comes to his central defensive partnership, the Red Devils boss will look for the solidity of Johnny Evans and Phil Jones to keep the Stoke forward line at bay.

Midfield:

The likes of Maroune Fellaini, Micheal Carrick and Shinji Kagawa are all out which means Moyes will give Tom Celeverley an extended run with the likes of Danny Fletcher, the latter who featured at Villa Park on Sunday. Even the long lost Anderson might just get the nod. Wilfred Zaha might start on the left with Antonio Valencia on the right, the latter being sublime against the Villans on Sunday. Portuguese Nani might be used later on a substitue and the same applies for youngster Adnan Januzaj.

Strike Force:

Danny Welback will be eager to maintain his goal scoring prowess with Wayne Rooney up front. Expect the duo to start the game once again.