Harry running out of options

United preview

BATTERED and bruised but safely through to the Carling Cup final, Tottenham Hotspur visit Manchester United tomorrow for an FA Cup fourth-round tie manager Harry Redknapp clearly expects to lose.

Despite being outplayed for the majority of their Carling semi-final at rain-lashed Burnley on Wednesday night, Spurs found the resources to score two goals deep into extra-time and book their place against United at Wembley on March 1.

But an extra-time slog on the Turf Moor mud clearly took its toll and, with a Premier League basement battle at home to Stoke next Tuesday in mind, Redknapp insists he will rest many of his top players.

First–choice goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is sidelined due to injury, so Ben Alnwick – whose mistake led to the third Burnley goal which forced extra time - is set for another shift between the sticks at Old Trafford.

And Alnwick could find himself extremely busy if Redknapp carries out his threat to rest the likes of key central defender Jonathan Woodgate.

In a not-so-veiled attack on previous Spurs boss Juande Ramos, Redknapp said after the Burnley game: “He (Alnwick) is the only goalkeeper I’ve got.

“This is a football club that has been put together by I don’t know who and I don’t know how.

“It’s a mish–mash of players with people playing where they want to play. It’s scary.

“I have to go to Old Trafford with that group of players that we had tonight.

“I can't risk Woodgate on Saturday because we've got Stoke on Tuesday and I will go to Old Trafford with the weakest team I can possibly find.”

Tottenham’s problems should be sweet music to the ears of United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, but tomorrow’s tie may not be cut and dried as the Reds have severe problems of their own.

They are definitely without key defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, along with talisman striker Wayne Rooney.

And Tuesday’s Carling Cup triumph over Derby came at a price with Portuguese winger Nani limping off, and defender Jonny Evans and midfield man Anderson hobbling at the finish of the game.

Rafael Da Silva, the young full-back who has been so impressive in his first season with United, is also likely to miss out after straining a hamstring, while Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez will have to show they have recovered from knocks picked up against Derby.

Tomorrow’s tea-time showdown promises to feature United’s walking wounded against a Spurs second X1, but the prize at stake is a big one and should produce a full-bloodied cup-tie which is likely to be settled by the Reds’ superior fire power.

And how ironic it would be if striker Dimitar Berbatov scored the winner for United.

Berbatov, whose last-gasp goal secured three Premier League points at Bolton last Saturday, left Tottenham in acrimonious circumstances in September and, after a quiet start, is starting to show why United shelled out £30.75million for his services.

MANCHESTER United duo Anderson and Jonny Evans have been ruled out for three weeks with ankle injuries, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed.