Date: Saturday, 2nd March Venue: Old Trafford K/o: 15:00
Team News
Ryan Giggs could make his 1,000th senior appearance for club and country against Norwich
after signing a new one-year extension at Old Trafford. Robin van Persie is available for selection after sustaining a bizarre hip injury against Queens Park Rangers last weekend, but may not be risked with the second leg of the Champions League last-16 against Real Madrid on the horizon. Defender Phil Jones (ankle) and midfielder Paul Scholes (knee) miss out through injury. Norwich will be without midfielder Alex Tettey, who is struggling with a knee injury of his own, while New signing Kei Kamara could be handed his first full appearance following his impressive goal-scoring display against Everton last weekend. Long-term absentees John Ruddy, Andrew Surman and Jacob Butterfield remain sidelined.
Match Preview
On March 2nd 1992, a fresh-faced Ryan Giggs trotted out onto the pitch against Everton as a substitute, marking his debut for Manchester United. Twenty-two years to the very day, he could play his 1,000th career game against Norwich, and very few could have ever imagined the glittering career the Welshman would go on to enjoy with the club. With a blockbuster encounter with Real Madrid to prepare for, though, sentimentality may have to take a backseat in this encounter and Giggs could find himself on the bench alongside Robin van Persie if Ferguson decides to give his big guns a rest. Not that he should underestimate Norwich. In the reverse fixture this season, the Canaries secured a 1-0 victory over their esteemed rivals, only their second win over Manchester United in 15 league matches. However, you have to go even further back than the beginning of Ryan Giggs' United career to find their last win at Old Trafford. The 2-0 win in August 1989 in the old Division One remains their last victory at the Theatre of Dreams.
Likely Line-Ups
Man Utd de Gea, Buttner, Evans, Vidic, Rafael, Nani, Cleverley, Giggs, Kagawa, Welbeck, Rooney
Norwich Bunn, Bassong, Garrido, Martin, Turner, Snodgrass, Pilkington, Johnson, Hoolahan, Holt, Kamara Source:
BBC