side host Norwich City in the Capital One Cup at Old Trafford in yet another crucial game for David Moyes.
Moyes has enjoyed an indifferent start to life as United boss and he of all people realises how important it is to win silverware in his first season at the club.
After narrowly edging past Stoke City on Saturday, the United faithful will no doubt demand a comprehensive victory here against a Canaries side who are not just struggling for goals, but also form in general.
But Norwich can take hope in the fact that they have never lost a League Cup fixture against United, winning two and drawing one, while they have netted a combined nine goals in the previous rounds of this competition this season.
However, United’s home form in this competition is strong with just one loss from their last eleven at Old Trafford, which doesn’t make pretty reading for Norwich who have failed to win a match at Old Trafford in any competition since 1989.
Despite Moyes’ need for silverware and the fact that that the Capital One Cup looks like a golden opportunity to do so this season, he is still expected to rest some big names on Tuesday night. Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney are likely to sit this one out, paving the way for Saturday’s match-winner Javier Hernandez to get the nod up-front. Wilfried Zaha may also start to United, with the England U21 star hoping to impress Moyes in order to earn a chance to play a part in the Premier League.
Considering Hughton’s need to get the Canaries’ league form back on track, he is expected to make a host of changes to his side. Ricky van Wolfswinkel will definitely miss out due to a toe injury, Johan Elmander and Gary Hooper fighting for a starting spot, although Hooper looks a more likely choice after impressing with a match winning brace in the previous round against Watford.
David Moyes knew how much pressure the United job came with, but he will not have expected to be under so much pressure from the fans so soon in to his Old Trafford career, which makes winning this tie more important than it perhaps would have been normally.
Hughton will not want to see he side roll over for United and will, of course, welcome an upset here. And he will telling his players to take a leaf out of Swansea and Bradford’s books from last season after they both caused big upsets to reach the Capital One Cup last season.
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