New loan signing Seb Hines goes straight into the reckoning for Derby ahead of Manchester United's visit in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg.
The England Under-19 international defender, who can play anywhere along the back line, agreed a month-long spell at the Championship club on Monday and could make his debut given the Rams' defensive problems.
Martin Albrechtsen is a doubt after jarring his knee against Forest Green in the FA Cup at the weekend while Claude Davis has resumed training after his latest knee problem but will be short of fitness after almost six weeks on the sidelines.
Paul Connolly trained on Monday after missing the Christmas programme with a knee injury and could come into contention while Jordan Stewart serves the second game of a three-match ban.
Striker Rob Hulse has a slight stomach strain but is expected to be fit for Derby's first appearance in a major cup semi-final since 1976, and the club's first in the last four of the League Cup since 1968.
Hulse insists all the pressure is on Manchester United ahead of Wednesday's first leg.
In stark contrast to Derby's fortunes, the reigning Premier League, European and World Club champions will be appearing in a domestic cup semi-final for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
Hulse believes such success increases the pressure and expectation - especially against a team from a lower division that is unaccustomed to reaching such heights.
"Derby are not used to being in this position. We haven't reached a semi-final for many years but it is commonplace for United,'' said the 29-year-old.
"We are the underdogs and we have got nothing to lose whereas United are expected to win, so we can just go out and play our game and enjoy ourselves and enjoy pitting our wits against some of the best players in the world.
"Being the favourites and being expected to win brings with it an added pressure. We have got to try and take advantage of that and make it difficult for them and if we can play and get the crowd behind us, we can give anyone a game.
"It is a cup game so you never know what could happen, but at the same time we know that whatever team they bring it will be packed full of experienced internationals and great players.''
Carlos Tevez is set to return for United at Pride Park.
Tevez has returned from a New Year trip back to Argentina, sanctioned by Sir Alex Ferguson, only for mixed messages to appear about his intentions once a two-year loan deal at Old Trafford expires this summer.
Ferguson is set to make further changes to the side that won at Southampton in the FA Cup on Sunday, with Tomasz Kuszczak, Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon among those expected to be included.
Defender Nemanja Vidic insists United's lengthy Carling Cup campaign is a help rather than a hindrance.
With the prospect of a place in the final at Wembley on March 1, another Red Devils fixture - against Portsmouth - will need rearranging, with United's volume of matches reaching mammoth proportions before the campaign reaches its conclusion.
As a glut of fixtures was one of the reasons cited by Ferguson for a disappointing finale to the 2006-07 season, the suspicion might be that the club need not care too much whether they beat the managerless Rams or not.
But Vidic is having none of that. It seems any trophy is a welcome addition to the United cabinet - and with such a big squad to satisfy, the more games the better.
"This is not a distraction,'' he said.
"We want to win.
"We have a big squad, so we need a lot of games to keep everyone fit.
"This is an important time of the season. Injuries can happen at any time - which is why we need everyone to be ready when the big games come around.
"We also know there is a trophy at the end of it.
"Maybe the Carling Cup is not as big as the Premier League or even the FA Cup. But it is still a trophy, which is what Manchester United thrives on.
"We are in the semi-finals now, so there will be no messing about.''
"We cannot get drawn into thinking Derby may be a good side or a bad one,'' said Vidic.
"The opposition will always want to play well against Manchester United.''
Resource: ESPNsoccernet
0 comments:
Post a Comment