Ahead of today’s UEFA Champions League match at the Stade Velodrome, Marseille’s ability to feature a full attack against Manchester United is still in doubt. André-Pierre Gignac has already been ruled out, while fellow attackers Brandão and Loïc Rémy face late fitness tests. Mathieu Valbuena should be back, but in a reduced (substitute) role.
Marseille Vs. Manchester United, Injury Update: Gignac, Ferdinand, Giggs Amongst Myriad Of Absences
Manchester United is not without their own injury problems. Neither Rio Ferdinand nor Ryan Giggs made the trip to Marseille, while Anderson is out long term. Rafael da Silva is also a doubt for today's match, adding to an injury list which includes Park Ji-Sung and Antonio Valencia.
Here are Marseille and Manchester United’s full injury lists as well as how each absence may effect the clubs:
Marseille
André-Pierre Gignac - The France international is out for two weeks after suffering a groin injury this weekend. Usually starting to the left of central striker Brandão, Gignac would be the perfect person to try and exploit Chris Smalling (if Marseille were to try to isolate the inexperienced defender). Now, André Ayew will get the start, perhaps giving l'OM slightly better play in wide areas. But Ayew is no Gignac.
Brandão, Loïc Rémy - Both strikers had to leave in the second half of this weekend’s match with ankle problems. While both were thought doubts, it looks like each will play, with Brandão being the more certain of the two. Brandão, a handful in the air with the elbows of a hockey player, could also try to exploit Smalling, while Rémy’s absence would eliminate l’OM’s best player toward the right flank. Jordan Ayew would be the next attacker off the bench, with Fabrrice Abriel, normally more of a midfielder, the final option.
Mathieu Valbuena - The diminutive midfielder has declared himself fit, recovering from a January knee injury. Didier Deschamps is not so sure. The Marseille coach has said Valbuena will start on the bench, but if Rémy and Brandão both fail to start, Valbuena may be pressed into action.
Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand - Ferdinand has missed most of February with a calf injury. He didn't even make the trip to Marseille, and with Jonny Evans out with an ankle problem Smalling will start to the right of Nemanja Vidic. For United supporters, a group that seems to have become disillusioned with Evans' performance, Smalling represents a silver lining.
Ryan Giggs - What, exactly, is the problem with Ryan Giggs? It’s difficult to know, as there have no been consistent reports. What we do know: He’s not even in France. While it’s tempting to say the unexplained absence means Alex Ferguson is merely giving Giggs some time off, that reason seems unlikely, given injuries to other wide players. For example ...
Park Ji-Sung, Antonio Valencia - Valencia's ankle and Park's international service have kept them out of the United team so long that their continued absences are not a new issue. Yet, with Giggs out for the match, their unavailability may force Gabriel Obertan into the team or Wayne Rooney into a wide role. Rooney's been used wide in Champions League before, particularly when United merely want a clean sheet. Not that such a deployment wouldn't still surprise.
Rafael and Fabio da Silva - The twin Brazilian full backs are both doubts, though as kick-off approaches, most reports have the duo out. Each picked-up knocks this weekend against Crawley Town, though only Rafael's absence should effect this match. At best, Fabio would have been on the bench, and Rafael may have been the same, though with his co-first choice right back out, Ferguson will be forced to use John O'Shea at right back.
Anderson - Anderson's energy makes him a preferred choice in Champions League, but with him out for two months, Ferguson again sees his options limited. Don't be surprised if Darron Gibson comes into the starting XI. At a minimum, the Ireland international will make the bench.
Michael Owen - Shocking, I know. Owen's injured. This time, it's a groin problem. When healthy, Owen is almost always on the bench and a valuable late-match substitute. In a match that could be 0-0 well into the second half, he could have had a role. Instead, we're likely to see Joshua King on the bench.
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