Ferguson predicts
Giggs will star
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has tipped Ryan Giggs to have
a big impact in the derby with Manchester City - and for a long
time to come.
Ferguson said: "I can always sense when Ryan is coming to the boil.
When he gets into those pockets of form we know he is capable of,
he is devastating."
And Ferguson feels Giggs can go on to challenge Sir Bobby
Charlton's all-time appearance record for United.
"Ryan is 71 games behind, it is a realistic target," added
Ferguson.
As for the present, Ferguson is delighted with the form of his
Premiership leaders going into the match against their
neighbours.
He said: "The football we have been playing recently is as good as
anything that we have seen over the past few years.
"To win the league playing like that must be a great motivation for
them all."
However, opposing number Stuart Pearce remains optimistic that his
team can knock Ferguson's men out of their stride and give City
fans a boost.
He said: "It would be nice to give our fans something else to
celebrate.
"I know exactly how much they would love it if we could win
tomorrow.
"In the past there has been a lot of talk about United's big games
nowadays being against Liverpool and Chelsea.
"But I am sure some of their fans live in this city too and they
won't want to go into work knowing our supporters are the ones who
have the bragging rights."
But Pearce is also aware that he sends his team out to face a side
who are at the top of their game.
"At the start of the season I would have said Arsenal were the best
passing team in the league," he added. "At the moment, it is
United."
Injuries
Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra is a major doubt after
picking up a calf injury.
Evra was only able to do some light jogging on Friday and will be
replaced by Gabriel Heinze if not fit.
Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann could be promoted from
the bench depending on which formation manager Stuart Pearce
employs.
Utility player Sun Jihai (hamstring) and winger Trevor Sinclair
(knee) are both missing with long-term knocks.
Teams
Man Utd
(from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic,
Silvestre, O'Shea, Evra, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick,
Fletcher, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Solskjaer, Saha.
Man City
(from): Weaver, Hart, Isaksson, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Distin, M
Mills, Thatcher, Jordan, Trabelsi, Reyna, Barton, Hamann, Ireland,
Vassell, Corradi, Dickov, Samaras.
LAST SEASON'S
CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City
10 September 2005 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Man United scorer: van Nistelrooy 45
Man City scorers: Barton 76
HEAD TO HEAD
TOTALS
Home and away
League: Man United 51 wins, Man City 35, Draws 48
Prem: Man United 10 wins, Man City 3, Draws 5
at Man United only
League: Man United 28 wins, Man City 14, Draws 25
Prem: Man United 5 wins, Man City 0, Draws 4