Hughes sets his sights on City

FORMER Athletic striker Lee Hughes is desperate to be unleashed against Manchester City on Sunday.

Hughes, who had two successful seasons at Boundary Park, boasts a phenomenal record for Notts County, City’s FA Cup fourth-round opponents at Meadow Lane.

The striker has netted 44 goals in 63 games since moving to Meadow Lane in July, 2009, and scored the winner as the Magpies produced a shock 2-1 win at Sunderland in the third round.

Hughes also netted against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the League Cup at the end of September, and against Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup last season.

The 34-year-old made his return from a calf injury as a second-half substitute at Hartlepool United in League One on Tuesday, and scored his seventh goal in eight games to rescue a point for County in a 1-1 draw.

Hughes is relishing the challenge of trying to beat City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart in front of a sell-out crowd at Meadow Lane.

"It's a big game and I really want to play," he said. "I've had a slight injury, but I got on against Hartlepool and felt fine.

"I'd love to go up against City's defenders. There is no pressure on us at all. It is all on them, so we've got nothing to lose.

"It will be a great occasion. The atmosphere will be electric and we'll rise to that.”

EDWIN van der Sar is likely to be rested for Manchester United’s fourth-round tie at Southampton tomorrow night.
Now past his 40th birthday and with retirement looming at the end of the season, he is unlikely to make the journey to the south coast, meaning that either Tomasz Kuszczak will return or Anders Lindegaard will be handed his debut.

Lindegaard was on the substitutes’ bench at Blackpool on Tuesday, but has still to play a competitive game since his arrival from Norwegian outfit Aalesund.

Full-back Rafael has been ruled out with concussion, so John O'Shea can expect a recall, while Jonny Evans will also hope to find a place in defence.

Most interest will surround United’s attack, where 20–goal Dimitar Berbatov will probably be rested. Wayne Rooney might be retained, knowing his place in the Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Tuesday could be at risk if he performs as meekly as he did at Blackpool in midweek.


UNITED goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, who yesterday paid tribute to the retiring Van der Sar, also spoke in glowing terms of Ben Amos, the ’keeper currently on loan at Athletic.
He said: "The manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) thinks a lot of him. We have sent him out on loan to Oldham and he has done a terrific job so far.”