McCarthy not looking forward to United backlash

By Brian Lofrumento | 14th December 2009

McCarthy not looking forward to United backlash | read this item

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has dismissed any claims of a United dip in form, warning his players of a possible backlash from the defending Premier League champions following their defeat at home to Aston Villa.

“People ask is this a good time to catch United on the back of their defeat by Villa,” he said. “Let me ask: when was the last time United lost two league games at home on the bounce — I’d guess it was about 1760. We won’t be giving up on the game, but United will be rubbing their hands in anticipation of us going there.”

United, meanwhile, are anxiously awaiting the return of some of their defenders. Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic paired up in the center of the defense against Villa, while Rio Ferdinand is out until the new year. Skipper Gary Neville is out for two to three more weeks, and is targeting a Christmas return.

“I think I’ll probably be out for two to three weeks,” Neville said. “I’m hoping to be back for the Christmas games. We have lots of defenders injured at the moment and I’ve never known anything like it in terms of so many injuries in the same position.

“We have a huge squad, with eight players in defence who can all play in different positions. So if we had a few injuries in defence we wouldn’t be struggling but to have seven injured defenders is incredible, unprecedented and extremely unlucky.”

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