Date: Tuesday, 7 January 2014; Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland; Kickoff: 19:45 GMT Sunderland have not beaten Manchester United since they last met in the League Cup over 13 years ago. Kevin Phillips's extra time penalty took the Black Cats into quarter-finals in November 2000 with Red Devils goalscorer Dwight Yorke being sent off. United have since won 16 of the 20 subsequent encounters that have all come in the Premier League and the other four were drawn. The Black Cats will have home advantage first in this two-legged tie with the winners to face either West Ham United or Manchester City at Wembley. Gus Poyet has had defensive injuries worrying him, but despite Sunderland's struggle in the league they remain in both domestic cup competitions. The basement club of the English top flight will be targeting an upset in this first leg similar to their shock win over City in November. David Moyes's Red Devils come into this off the back of successive home defeats. Old Trafford may no longer be a fortress, but United may end up taking their frustrations out on the Black Cats here.
Team News
Sunderland had what looked to be a lack of natural options to play centre back, but have been buoyed by the return of captain and former Red Devil John O'Shea to training following a shoulder problem. Valentin Roberge and Modibo Diakite have recovered from the knocks that caused them to miss the FA Cup win over Carlisle United on Sunday. On-loan left back Marcos Alonso, once of Bolton Wanderers, may make his Black Cats bow here. Ki Sung-Yueng may return to a midfield berth after playing as a makeshift defender last time out. Carlos Cuellar and keeper Keiren Westwood remain sidelined with hip and shoulder problems respectively. United will welcome back senior names Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney, along with number one David De Gea, following the shock FA Cup exit to Swansea. Brazilian fullback Fabio begins a three-match ban, however. Centre half Rio Ferdinand is out with a knee injury he picked up in the last outing. He joins Marouane Fellaini (wrist), Phil Jones (knee), Nani (hamstring), Robin van Persie (thigh) and Ashley Young (shoulder) on the sidelines. Source: BBC
Likely Line-Ups
Sunderland: 25 Vito Mannone, 2 Phil Bardsley, 5 Wes Brown, 16 John O'Shea (c), 28 Marcos Alonso, 33 Lee Cattermole, 23 Emanuele Giaccherini, 8 Craig Gardner, 4 Ki Sung-Yueng, 31 Fabio Borini, 9 Steven Fletcher 4-1-4-1 Man Utd: 1 David De Gea, 12 Chris Smalling, 15 Nemanja Vidic (c), 6 Jonny Evans, 3 Patrice Evra, 25 Antonio Valencia, 16 Michael Carrick, 11 Ryan Giggs, 44 Adnan Januzaj, 10 Wayne Rooney, 19 Danny Welbeck/14 Javier Hernandez 4-4-1-1
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
