Carling Cup Team News

Team news for Wigan Athletic and Manchester United ahead of the Carling Cup Final on Sunday.

Wigan Athletic News

There don’t appear to be any injuries from the weekend match against Tottenham Hotspur and nobody has picked up a suspension due to yellow cards.


Stephane Henchoz was substituted at half-time with a knee problem but it isn’t thought to be serious.

Henri Camara was taken off with a couple of minutes to go, but it is believed he was just suffering a touch of cramp after the exertions of the last few weeks.

Gary Teale failed a fitness test before the Spurs match due to an ankle injury, but he was still named on the bench and is expected to be fit for Sunday.

Jason Roberts has served the last match of his suspension following his sending-off against Everton. He was reported to be suffering a mild abductor strain but should be fit for the final.

Neil Mellor missed the Spurs game due to a knee injury, it’s not known if he will be fit for Sunday.

Ziegler is eligible again after missing Spurs because of the conditions of his loan deal. Thompson is ineligible because he played in an earlier round for Blackburn Rovers.

McCulloch played the last few minutes of the Spurs game and should be fit.

My predicted line-up:

Pollitt
Chimbonda De Zeeuw Scharner Baines
Camara Bullard Kavanagh Ziegler
Johansson
Roberts

Subs
Filan Henchoz McCulloch Teale Mellor

Paul Jewell will decide his selection on Thursday or Friday and tell the players, but the teamsheet won’t be released to the public until just before the match.

Manchester United News

Gary Neville escaped a ban at the FA disciplinary hearing into the celebration in the Liverpool match a few weeks ago, so he will be available. No further bans from the weekend’s FA Cup match against Liverpool.

Smith obviously out, my sympathies go to him.

Ferdinand suffered a hamstring injury before the match and didn’t feature, doubtful for Sunday.

O’Shea has recovered from a rib injury and will play in the reserves in midweek, may be fit enough for Sunday if he comes through OK.

My predicted line-up:

Van der Sar
Brown Neville Silvestre Vidic
Fletcher Giggs Richardson Ronaldo
Rooney van Nistelrooy

Subs
Howard Pique Park Saha Rossi


This page will be updated with any further news I have during the week. Leave any news or comments you have below.