TEAMtalk

Norwich v Man Utd preview

Friday 24-February-2012 08:50

Zak Whitbread could return to the Norwich fold.

The 28-year-old has recovered from a hamstring injury and should return for the Carrow Road encounter, but his fellow defender Daniel Ayala continues to miss out.

Marc Tierney (groin) and Jonny Howson (knee) are both on the comeback trail, although Norwich manager Paul Lambert believes this weekend's game might be beyond them

Rio Ferdinand will return to the Manchester United squad.

Ferdinand was rested for the Europa League defeat to Ajax but Sir Alex Ferguson will look to the 33-year-old to bring some stability to a back four that struggled badly at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney (throat) is a doubt, whilst there is also speculation Tom Cleverley has suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury.

Norwich (from): Ruddy, Naughton, Bennett, Martin, Drury, Fox, Whitbread, Pilkington, Surman, Hoolahan, Holt, Jackson, Morison, Steer, Johnson, Crofts, Wilbraham, Ward, Lappin, Barnett, Vaughan.

United (from): De Gea, Amos, Rafael, Fabio, Smalling, Jones, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Cleverley, Carrick, Pogba, Park, Scholes, Giggs, Young, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez.