Man Utd away at Derby: Team News
2008-03-14 12:02:45
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Derby defender Alan Stubbs is certain to miss out. Stubbs suffered a calf injury in Wednesday's 6-1 defeat at Chelsea and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. Rams boss Paul Jewell will hand a late fitness test to Stephen Pearson, who is struggling with a stomach muscle strain, while Tyrone Mears and Claude Davis remain long-term absentees. | |||||
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Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster will make his long-awaited debut for the club - three seasons after moving to Old Trafford.
Foster, 24, spent two seasons on loan to Watford before having a knee operation in the summer. With only one reserve game behind him, he has been drafted in to face Derby at Pride Park as Edwin van der Sar has a groin problem and Tomasz Kuszczak is suspended. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has firm belief in Foster, who has one England cap to his name, to do a job after planning to send him out on loan before two of his goalkeepers were sidelined. He said: "Ben has been out for a year and this is a big challenge for the boy. "Certain things, though, about him encourage me. He has fantastic presence and speed and agility. I have no fears about him being okay." Louis Saha (knee) and Ryan Giggs (calf) remain doubtful through injury for the game against the Premier League's bottom club. | |||||
Sporting Life