Man City v Man Utd Carling Cup Preview

Man City v Man Utd

Manchester City will look to lay down a marker when they welcome Manchester United to Eastlands for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.

The game has been highly anticipated by both sets of supporters ever since the draw was made last month with City fans desperate to prove that they are now the team to beat in Manchester.

The fact that the game was called off a fortnight ago, thanks to the heavy snow, has only heightened expectation around the city.

With United looking incapable of shrugging off the inconsistency that has blighted their season so far City sense that now is the perfect time to deliver a knock-out blow to their neighbours.

Roque Santa Cruz will sit out after it was revealed on Monday that he will be out of action for a month with a persistent calf injury.

Defenders Nedum Onuoha (calf), Joleon Lescott (knee) and Wayne Bridge (knee) remain sidelined as does long-term casualty Michael Johnson (knee).

Dimitar Berbatov is a doubt for United after limping off against Burnley at the weekend with a dead leg so Michael Owen or Mame Biram Diouf could start.

Rio Ferdinand (calf) is close to a return but will not be risked for the cup clash with Ryan Giggs also expected to miss out.

via SkySports

Posted on January 19, 2010 | Filed Under Football