West Ham United head to Old Trafford tonight dreaming of FA Cup glory as they take on Manchester United.
Moyes drops major hint over star duo ahead of Manchester United clash
The Hammers have been boosted after influential Man United star Paul Pogba was ruled out of the fifth round tie with a thigh injury.
West Ham are just six points behind second placed Man United in the Premier League with 15 games to go.
West Ham must believe in the Theatre of Dreams
So the Irons must believe they can match their illustrious opponents at the Theatre of Dreams.
David Moyes will be hoping to make the most of West Ham’s excellent form in this wide open season by pushing hard to win their first major trophy for 41 years.
Pogba being out may help West Ham’s cause. But in truth the Frenchman was likely to be rested for the game anyway.
West Ham fans will be hoping Moyes fields the strongest possible team against the Red Devils. To that end West Ham have been boosted after Tomas Soucek has his red card rescinded.
Pogba out as OGS ponders SEVEN changes to Man United side to face Hammers
Conversely they will be keeping everything crossed that Man United make one change too many.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could make as many as seven changes for the tie against West Ham from the side that started the 3-3 draw with Everton on Saturday night.
Dean Henderson will come in for under fire David de Gea against West Ham.
Eric Bailly could be a slight doubt. But if fit he is widely expected to take Viktor Lindelof’s place alongside Harry Maguire in defence.
Whether they actually have a striker to mark or not remains to be seen as West Ham boss Moyes has hinted at playing a false nine if Michail Antonio is unavailable.
Alex Telles looks set to come in for the in-form Luke Shaw at left-back.
Key quartet Fernandes, Shaw, Rashford and Fernandes rested?
Nemanja Matic and Donny van de Beek could replace Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in central midfield against West Ham’s power duo Soucek and Declan Rice.
Daniel James and Anthony Martial could replace Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani in the left forward and striker roles respectively against Moyes’s Hammers.
That – or a derivative of that Man United team – still possesses lots of quality.
But West Ham must try to take advantage of their lack of game time together and field as close to their strongest XI as is possible.
The quarter-finals of the FA Cup beckon for the winners.
Predicted Man United starting XI to face West Ham:
Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly (Tuanzebe if not fit), Maguire, Telles, Matic, McTominay, de Beek, Greenwood, James, Martial.
West Ham star makes Manchester United claim after playing with Jesse Lingard
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