preview: MANCHESTER UNITED v Wigan Athletic
fa premiership, Matchday 20
Old Trafford, Manchester, 20.00pm GMT, Wednesday 14th January 2009.

Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.


United will unfortunately be without Patrice Evra (foot) and Rio Ferdinand (back).

Evra is expected to be out for up to four weeks. (see below)

On the good news Wes Brown is nearing a return after a long spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The Two Johnny's are expected to fill the gaps in United's back four.

In form Premiership side Wigan with Ex Red Steve Bruce are currently on a roll with six wins from seven games after beating Spurs at the weekend.

Bruce is expected to name an unchanged side.
 

On the Chelsea victory & hard work to come.
"The hard work has not been done just because we have beaten Chelsea. This is a harder one for us. It is one of our games in hand, and we have to win.

"People will expect us to reach the same level of performance as Sunday again. But I have looked at all the statistics, and Chelsea worked amazingly hard - which just shows the level we got to. "We certainly hope to be top by Saturday night. That is our aim. But it will not be easy, because Wigan are on a fantastic run.

"They are a powerful team with a good balance of ages."

On Patrice Evra
"Evra will be out for three weeks, maybe four. It shouldn't be any more than that,"

"It's a blow,"  "He just went over on his foot and damaged the ligament in the bottom of his foot - it was so simple really.

"We're trying to get the swelling down at the moment and there's a lot of blood in there which needs to be cleared up. That will take around 8-10 days. Then we'll get back into training.

"We've got cover in John O'Shea who is a fantastic performer. You can ask him to play anywhere and he never lets you down."

On Rio Ferdinand
Rio has been to a specialist and there are no major problems with his back, but he won't be involved against Wigan"  "We are giving him a series of exercises, but he should be ok and we hope he'll be back for the Spurs game."

 8th competitive match between the two sides

7th League meeting between the two sides.

SAF's 640th Premiership fixture in charge.