FA Cup Scout Notes – Fourth Round – Friday

Wayne Rooney gets back amongst the goals as United edge past Derby to book a spot in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. Elsewhere, Diego Costa is available for Chelsea’s clash with MK Dons, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is set to be rested this weekend, whilst Connor Wickham is banned for three matches due to violent conduct.

Martial Shines as United Progress

Louis Van Gaal made two changes from the side that lost at home to Southampton last weekend as United made their way to Championship outfit Derby. Switching from a 3-4-1-2 back to his usual 4-2-3-1 set-up, the United boss drafted in Guillermo Varela and Juan Mata for the injured Matteo Darmian and Ander Herrera respectively. This saw Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard – who has now started each of the last four in all competitions – fielded on the left and right flanks respectively, with Wayne Rooney leading the line.

Rooney opened the scoring with his sixth strike in as many matches, courtesy of a Martial assist, before Lingard – priced at 4.2 in Fantasy Premier League – teed up Daley Blind to put United back in front after the home side had levelled the match at 1-1. Martial then capped off a Man of the Match display by earning his second assist of the evening, supplying the pass for Mata to finish matters off at 3-1.

Late Friday Press Conferences
After covering most of the team news in yesterday morning’s article, we check around the later Friday press conferences for any worthy updates.

Jurgen Klopp issued another extensive injury report on Liverpool’s walking wounded ahead of today’s encounter with West Ham. In defence, Martin Skrtel remains absent for the Reds, though Dejan Lovren – an unused sub in midweek against Stoke – is now fully fit and available for selection.

Elsewhere at the back, Nathaniel Clyne could be in contention to return, having missed out on Tuesday due to a knee injury:

“Nathaniel, possibly, but we are not sure. He is much better, it was knee against knee and that’s really painful. There’s no doubt about the [durability] of Clyney. I asked him, ‘One is no pain, ten is big, big pain – where are we?’ and he said seven! Maybe you should have a rest, then. But now it’s three, two, one, hopefully zero and we will see. He will train today and we will know more about this.”

The Reds boss conceded that Jordan Henderson will be rested against the Hammers after their Potters’ clash went to extra-time and penalties. Daniel Sturridge continues to struggle with on-going injury issues, though Philippe Coutinho could soon be back for the Merseysiders:

“[Coutinho] is close to returning to training but he’s not in the team training [yet]. He [will finish] his last two-three sessions with rehab and then he will be back on the pitch with us.”

Loic Remy is a concern for Chelsea’s trip to MK Dons due to a calf problem, Guus Hiddink has revealed. The interim Blues boss has also conceded that loan signing Alexandre Pato may well need to improve his fitness before seeing pitch time. Diego Costa, meanwhile, has been passed fit after returning to training on Thursday, having recovered from the knee knock that forced him off against Arsenal last Sunday. Eden Hazard could be in line to start tomorrow afternoon after emerging from the bench against the Gunners last time out to signal his comeback from injury.

Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Kevin de Bruyne could be out for as much as 10 weeks with the knee problem sustained against Everton in midweek. The City boss revealed that the injury situation remains the same, though hopes to have a handful of players back in training over the next few days:

“We knew after the game it was a serious injury – not a season-ending injury as it was not a cruciate, but an important injury and will be out for 8-10 weeks. Eight to ten weeks more for Nasri and Kevin and I hope in a couple of weeks Bony will be fit again. Elsewhere, the same injuries as last week – Vincent, Mangala, Kolarov – I hope they will return next week to at least work with the squad.”

Alan Hutton is expected to miss out again with a hamstring problem as Aston Villa square up to Man City later today. Carlos Sanchez is struggling to overcome a similar complaint, though Gabby Agbonlahor has returned to training this week and will be assessed prior to the Villa Park encounter.

Jan Vertonghen, Clinton N’jie, Ryan Mason and Alex Pritchard are all ruled out of Tottenham’s trip to Colchester this lunchtime. Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Mason has a chance of returning to full training ahead of Tuesday evening’s visit to Carrow Road.

Elsewhere, Palace’s Connor Wickham has been handed a three-match ban with immediate effect. The forward was involved in an elbowing incident with Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen last weekend and will miss today’s cup clash with Stoke, in addition to upcoming league encounters with Bournemouth and Swansea.