Stoke vs United preview

All the news may have been about United's will-he-won't-he striker this week, but there'll be no Wayne Rooney at the Brit tomorrow and Stoke will be hoping that they can take advantage of a team that have been otherwise occupied. Having said that, we don't want to be on the end of any Red Revival tomorrow afternoon so if you give me a point now I'll gladly take it.

Certainly TP is cautioning everyone to be on their guard against a Fergie backlash after all the negative publicity up in Manchester and he's being backed up by one-time Stoke legend, Mickey Thomas, who knows both sides better than most: 'Well I called to see Tony Pulis this week (us Welsh lads have got to stick together) and like me he's having none of that. He sees it more a case of Stoke getting the backlash, so rest assured he will have his players well prepared. One thing that they won't need though is motivating because playing sides like United are what you are in the game for!'

Ricardo Fuller is a doubt after he aggravated his earlier shoulder injury last week at Bolton. Dean Whitehead is suspended for the match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the same game.

Experience says that our defence better be on their guard tomorrow and former Red and our current skipper knows that as well as anyone.

Of course Rooney is out with his ankle injury, but so is Jonny Evans, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs

He scored last weekend in the 2-2 draw against the Baggies and again in United's 1-0 win over Bursaspor in the Champions League.

Andre Marriner

Wednesday 27th October: West Ham (away) kick-off: 7.45pm Carling Cup
Saturday 30th October: Everton (away) kick-off: 3pm

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