Record signing Juan Mata is set
to make his Manchester United
debut against former United
striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's
Cardiff City side.
The Spain midfielder completed
his £37.1million move from
Chelsea on Saturday and is
expected to go straight into the
starting line-up on Tuesday.
Mata's arrival is a timely boost
for United, who crashed out of
the League Cup on penalties in
their semi-final against
Sunderland last week on the
back of a 3-0 top-flight defeat
at Chelsea.
Manager David Moyes will be
expecting Mata to provide the
touch of class that United have
been lacking in what has been
a disappointing season so far
for the Premier League
champions.
United's prospects of retaining
their title are forlorn, as Moyes'
men are seventh in the table
and 14 points adrift of leaders
Arsenal.
Moyes will still be confident of
clinching qualification for the
UEFA Champions League,
though, as Liverpool are six
points better off than the Old
Trafford outfit.
United drew 2-2 at Cardiff back
in November in the first
meeting between the two sides
since 1975 and since then
Solskjaer replaced Malky Mackay
at the Welsh club.
The 40-year-old can expect a
rapturous reception on his
return to Old Trafford, where he
spent
11 years during his
playing days and enjoyed a
major role in such a successful
period in United's history,
including scoring the winner in
the 1999 Champions League
final.
The Norwegian has been
charged with the task of
keeping Cardiff in the Premier
League, but they slipped to the
bottom of the table with a 4-2
defeat at Manchester City in
their last top-flight match.
Cardiff need to improve their
away form if they are to avoid a
return to the Championship, as
they have won only once on
their travels in the top flight.
Solskjaer's side did win at
Bolton Wanderers in the fourth
round of the FA Cup on
Saturday, but Cardiff have taken
just a point from their last six
Premier League games.
The Cardiff boss will be hoping
United strike duo Robin van
Persie (thigh) and Wayne
Rooney (groin) are not yet
ready to return.
Moyes will also assess the
fitness of Rio Ferdinand (knee),
Nani (hamstring) and Michael
Carrick (ankle), but captain
Nemanja Vidic will not definitely
not feature as he serves the
second of a two-match
suspension following his red
card at Chelsea.
Kenwyne Jones could make his
Cardiff debut if a swap deal
with Stoke City involving Peter
Odemwingie goes through in
time and forward Jo Inge
Berget could make his bow
following his move from Molde
last week.
The likes of Fraizer Campbell,
Steven Caulker and Craig Noone
are expected to return to the
starting line-up.
to make his Manchester United
debut against former United
striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's
Cardiff City side.
The Spain midfielder completed
his £37.1million move from
Chelsea on Saturday and is
expected to go straight into the
starting line-up on Tuesday.
Mata's arrival is a timely boost
for United, who crashed out of
the League Cup on penalties in
their semi-final against
Sunderland last week on the
back of a 3-0 top-flight defeat
at Chelsea.
Manager David Moyes will be
expecting Mata to provide the
touch of class that United have
been lacking in what has been
a disappointing season so far
for the Premier League
champions.
United's prospects of retaining
their title are forlorn, as Moyes'
men are seventh in the table
and 14 points adrift of leaders
Arsenal.
Moyes will still be confident of
clinching qualification for the
UEFA Champions League,
though, as Liverpool are six
points better off than the Old
Trafford outfit.
United drew 2-2 at Cardiff back
in November in the first
meeting between the two sides
since 1975 and since then
Solskjaer replaced Malky Mackay
at the Welsh club.
The 40-year-old can expect a
rapturous reception on his
return to Old Trafford, where he
spent
11 years during his
playing days and enjoyed a
major role in such a successful
period in United's history,
including scoring the winner in
the 1999 Champions League
final.
The Norwegian has been
charged with the task of
keeping Cardiff in the Premier
League, but they slipped to the
bottom of the table with a 4-2
defeat at Manchester City in
their last top-flight match.
Cardiff need to improve their
away form if they are to avoid a
return to the Championship, as
they have won only once on
their travels in the top flight.
Solskjaer's side did win at
Bolton Wanderers in the fourth
round of the FA Cup on
Saturday, but Cardiff have taken
just a point from their last six
Premier League games.
The Cardiff boss will be hoping
United strike duo Robin van
Persie (thigh) and Wayne
Rooney (groin) are not yet
ready to return.
Moyes will also assess the
fitness of Rio Ferdinand (knee),
Nani (hamstring) and Michael
Carrick (ankle), but captain
Nemanja Vidic will not definitely
not feature as he serves the
second of a two-match
suspension following his red
card at Chelsea.
Kenwyne Jones could make his
Cardiff debut if a swap deal
with Stoke City involving Peter
Odemwingie goes through in
time and forward Jo Inge
Berget could make his bow
following his move from Molde
last week.
The likes of Fraizer Campbell,
Steven Caulker and Craig Noone
are expected to return to the
starting line-up.
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