Scout Notes – FA Cup Fourth Round – Friday

United stutter to a goalless draw at Cambridge as the FA Cup fourth round gets underway with a whimper. Southampton’s Maya Yoshida exits the Asia Cup, as Sadio Mane recovers from injury to play his part for Senegal, Newcastle’s Nigel de Jong steps up his recovery, whilst Ryan Shawcross remains a concern for Stoke.

United Fail to Pass Cambridge Test

Louis van Gaal tinkered with his tactics once again for last night’s trip to Cambridge. The United boss rolled out a midfield diamond formation, as Angel di Maria tucked in behind front two Radamel Falcao and James Wilson, whilst Adnan Januzaj earned a rare start and Daley Blind was preferred to Luke Shaw at left-back. Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata were both afforded the night off and fit-again Robin van Persie emerged from the bench late on but the Red Devils failed to find a way past their hosts and are now set for a replay. Jonny Evans missed out through injury.

With three plum home fixtures in the next five (LEI, BUR, SUN), Van Gaal’s side had the perfect opportunity to place themselves in the Fantasy shop window but their inept display may make many think again over splashing out on their attack. Di Maria has earned more transfers in this week than any other United attacker and earlier in the day, his manager explained the reasons behind playing him up front in recent matches, before promptly shifting him to a deeper position to allow Wilson a start up top:

“He played in the 4-4-2 in the left midfield position, but in the 3-5-2 he does not play so much because he has been injured. Then he came back and I tried him as a striker because we also need pace in that position. We have to stretch the pitch – that is an important aspect of a striker, that he can stretch the pitch. Then you make the pitch bigger and your midfielders can play in a bigger space and play a better positional game than ever. So I tried that – I had to try it because I didn’t have the preparation at the beginning of the season [as Di Maria joined in late August].”

De Jong Steps Up Recovery

Newcastle’s forgotten midfielder Siem de Jong edged closer to a comeback yesterday after finally returning to training with the first-team. The Dutchman impressed during pre-season for the Tyneside team but played just two of the opening three Gameweeks before the injuries that plagued his final season at Ajax returned to haunt him. With Hull, Stoke, Palace and Villa in the next five, the Magpies have the platform to recover from back-to-back defeats but De Jong understandably remains cautious over his likely time of return – an indication that, for now, Remy Cabella looks the safest option for those willing to gamble on the managerless outfit.

“It feels good. I still have to get more training sessions and some minutes with the under-21s in the coming weeks to get up to full strength – especially if I want to play long parts of a game.I need some conditioning work but also games, so it’s probably going to be a couple of games with the under-21s.”

Shawcross Worry for Stoke

Ryan Shawcross remains a doubt for Monday’s clash with Rochdale, Mark Hughes has confirmed:

“Ryan didn’t train with the group out in Dubai because of the injury so we will have to see how he is over the next day or two. He put a good amount of work in with the physios out there, and that has benefitted him I would suggest. He is getting better, so we will see whether to include him in the group when they are all back in on Saturday morning.”

The Potters have racked up three clean sheets in the last five now and with a very kind run of matches to follow, could be poised to make a mark on the Fantasy landscape at both ends of the pitch. With Hughes still uncertain on Shawcross, though, team-mate Philip Wollscheid – at 4.5 to his captain’s 5.4 – looks the most appealing option for those contemplating Hughes’ improving rearguard. Left-back Erik Pieters (4.6) has been troubled by a groin injury, missing the 1-0 victory at Leicester, whilst on the right, Phil Bardsley (4.9) and Geoff Cameron (4.2) continue to compete for the starting berth.

Yoshida Exits, Mane Back In Action

The Southampton looks set to be available for Gameweek 23 after Japan were knocked out of the Asia Cup by the United Arab Emirates yesterday. With Toby Alderweireld still injured due to a hamstring problem and Yoshida initially expected to remain on international duties until the final on January 31, some Fantasy managers were eyeing up Florin Gardos as a short-term pick but the result immediately puts the latter’s pitch time in doubt. Indeed, with Alderweireld likely to return in two weeks’ time, Yoshida may only be afforded one or two starts alongside Jose Fonte before making way for the Belgian as the schedule smiles kindly on Ronald Koeman’s side.

Elsewhere in the Saints’ camp, Sadio Mane returned from his recent calf injury to turn out for 90 minutes in Senegal’s 1-1 stalemate with South Africa in the African Cup of Nations. Mane had missed his nation’s tournament opener against Ghana but will now play his part in the final group fixture: Senegal need just a draw against Algeria on Tuesday to ensure passage to the Quarter-Finals, ruling Mane out of a return to St Mary’s ahead of Gameweek 31. Mane will likely face a battle to regain a Southampton starting role given the impact of new signing, Eljero Elia; the 5.5 midfield option has fired two goals in his first two appearances since Mane has been out of contention.