Match Preview - Manchester United v Norwich City

Competition: Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 3pm, Saturday, 1st October 2011
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (Home) 
Live TV Coverage: None (WatchMUFC)

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton, England)
Assistants: Adam Watts & Mr. S Long
Fourth Official: Chris Foy


Form: United have stuttered slightly in the Premier League and Champions League recently, drawing against SL Benfica, Stoke City and lastly FC Basel in their last 5 matches. Wins over Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea eased any panic, but The Red Devils have looked complacent lately. However, Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Army remain unbeaten in all competitions, lie 1st in the League table and have a host of footballers coming back from injury.

Norwich City have found the Premier League tough, with losses to Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion - but two recent surprise wins against Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland have lifted the spirits of all involved at Carrow Road. The Canaries also managed to hold Wigan Athletic and Stoke City to draws, leaving Norwich 9th in the table - 4 places above Arsenal. Things may change for Norwich when they visit Old Trafford on Saturday though. 


The Injury Front: United's injury ward has shed a number of patients over the last few days, and supporters were delighted to hear Sir Alex state that both Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez will return to action against Norwich City - much sooner than anticipated. Jonny Evans is also expected to be fit, while long-term injury concerns Nemanja Vidic, Rafael Da Silva, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley will all return following next weekend's International break. 

Squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Jones, Ferdinand, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Park, Valencia, Young, Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen, Rooney, Welbeck.


Norwich City are in good shape in all departments, but have a smaller squad to choose from than United, naturally. Reds defender and current Norwich loanee Ritchie De Laet is ineligible to play against his maternal club, and James Vaughan is set to be out for up to four months with a knee injury. Defenders Zak Whitbread, Elliott Ward and Dani Ayala are all ruled-out of this fixture, while forward Oli Johnson is also injured following an operation on his ankle. 

Squad: Ruddy, Tierney, Barnett, Martin, Naughton, Fox, Johnson, Hoolahan, Pilkington, Bennett, Morison, Rudd, C Martin, Crofts, Holt, Francomb, Wilbraham, Drury.

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The Gaffer: Paul Lambert is one of 6 Scottish managers in the Premier League this season, and regards fellow countryman Sir Alex Ferguson as the best gaffer in the world. Lambert played for the likes of Celtic during his playing career, and arrived at Norwich City from Colchester United in 2009... 

Most-Feared: Marc Tierney is one of a rarity - an outstanding young talent yet to be snapped-up by one of the big boys. Tierney has been a revelation for Norwich this season, and the Republic Of Ireland defender is awaiting his first International call-up - at 26 years of age. He previously played for Colchester United as left-back. 

The Ref: Stuart Attwell has been labelled one of the worst Premier League referees of all time - but to us, they are all equally bad. The 28-year-old still has a lot of time to improve, and he can start doing so on Saturday in the wake of his colleague - Peter Walton - having a clanger of a game between Stoke City and United !

United Latest's Prediction: United 5-0 Norwich City
- Wayne Rooney hat-trick & Chicharito on the double ?