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Italian Wizard to Sink Tigers? Saturday 23rd May 2009
Manchester United have named a reserve squad for Sunday’s game against Hull but the Tigers should still be wary of the threat from Federico Macheda.
The 17-year-old Italian is likely to make the starting line-up at the KC Stadium in a game that Hull must win to secure Premiership survival.
Anything other than three points and the Tigers will be clinging desperately to their radios and listening out for scores in the matches involving Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
Sir Alex Ferguson has given Phil Brown’s side a glimmer of hope in the run-in to this crucial game by naming a squad without his big stars. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic will not be making an appearance on Humberside and Fantasy Stakes players may need to make a few transfers accordingly.
But Hull shouldn’t underestimate a United side with Macheda leading the line. The young striker scored a spectacular last-minute winner for the Red Devils against Aston Villa in a game that many pundits argue swung the title race dramatically in their favour.
He then scored the winning goal in the next game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light to earn himself yet more plaudits.
Hull’s defence must be on top form if they are going to keep him at bay for the full ninety minutes. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may well be resting his key players, but he still regards Macheda as a potential star.
He said: “He’s got something special about him, the boy.
“He has a good eye for goal, a terrific physique and is not shy about playing under pressure - that’s credit to him.”
Fantasy Stakes players will already be aware that the Italian teenager is destined for great things, but Hull fans will be hoping he is kept quiet for the time being at least.
