Who will step up?

An off-color display away to Bolton and a lacklustre performance at Valencia have meant that United go into this weekend's headed at The Stadium of Light, still not in full flow. There's a semblance of respectability to the week that could so easily have gone horribly wrong but for moments of sheer predatorial instinct by Michael Owen and Javier Hernandez. But is it enough steam to spruce up the team ahead of a potential banana skin against Steve Bruce's men?
Form apart, injuries to key personnel are threatening to derail a wobbly season yet again. We still haven't reached last season' lunatic levels but losing Rooney, Giggs, Scholes and Valencia is bad enough. While the injury to Wazza is a welcome relief since it gives him time to go away and get his head straight, the same can't be said about the others. The midfield's display against Scunthorpe and Valencia in the absence of Scholes show what we'll be missing from the next season once He retires. Fletcher' while industrious, seems lost without a creative midfielder around him to pull the strings upfield. And he still hasn't hit top form yet this season. To make things worse, he's already started 2 matches this week, a third might be too much to ask. Carrick and Anderson are just back from injury and giving them two starts in 4 days is a risk, considering the schedule for the next few months. Scholes is out for a week, minimum. This leaves Sir Alex with just Darron Gibson who is a certainty for one of the 2/3 midfield slots. Keeping in mind Gibson's limited distribution skills, Ando is ruled out to partner him. Will Sir Alex spring a surprise like the last time against the Black Cats at home (Danny Welbeck on the left wing)? Magnus Eikrem and Corry Evans certainly merit a callup on the back of a solid start to the reserves' season and it will be interesting to see how to shape up. Or maybe, just maybe, is Owen Hargreaves fit enough to make the bench?
On the wings, it's even worse. Giggs is out for a fortnight and Valencia is... well, out :'( Nani's played every minute of the matches against Bolton and Valencia and due for a break. And Park has been woeful this season. But fair play to the lad, standing up and taking responsibility. Maybe Sir Alex will give him a start just to help hm get his confidence back. The international break is no reason to play the fatigued legs of Nani and Fletcher since they will be in aciton in Euro qualifiers. If indeed Park gets the nod at left wing, who plays right? Has the Portuguese matured enough to give three top notch performance in a week? If not him then Gabby obertan will pounce on a start. Bebe makes a case for himself, but the bench is the closest he is getting to first team action this year. Rafael might be a good option but I guess it's too early in the season for Sir Alex presses that red button. A three man central mid field of Gibson, Park and Fletcher/Carrick behind a three man strike force might just pass muster looking at the glut of options up front.
Up front is where the relief arrives. Yes, Rooney is out but that (though hard to believe considering his 34 last season) is OK, looking at the alternatives. Berbatov will be the string puller ahead of a three man mid field. And I would prefer Macheda mining up next to Owen or Javi. All three have a point to prove. Macheda's been superb with his intelligence and link up play every time he's come on. His pass to Javi for the winner at Valencia was a gem. He should start in absence of Wazza. Owen after a spell on the sidelines and Javi after his clean-as-a-whistle strike at the Mestalla will both make a pressing case for a start. More than Macheda perhaps. But starting with both will mean, palying with 9 men trying to get last ball to 2 men. Waste of a player, IMO. But atleast, we have some options here.
The defence looks stable but doesn't exactly pick itself. Rafael was good without being spectacular against Valencia. He should start. Vidic with 2 starts in the week, and Rio with 90 minutes three days ago, need a break though we can ill afford it. Darren Bent's form calls for one or both of them to be lining up in defence but I can see Evans edging Rio just as a precaution. Depending on how lightly Sir Alex is going to take the Balck Cat's potence up front, Wes Brown and Chris Smalling might get a look in, to releive Vidic. I don't see it happening though.
Evra was, for the first time in 2 years, less than spectacular in the mid week. But he was REALLY less than spectacular. Pablo Hernandez ghosted past him enough times to make a strong case for a chant of 'Fergie Fergie Sign Him Up'. But that apart, perhaps the French captain needs a breather. Fabio has stepped up quite well when called up.
Injury to ex-Red Devil, Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck's loan clause mean that Steve Bruce is down to two strikers for the header. Maybe a 4-5-1 will make Fergie rest both Rio n Vida.
It promises to be an intriguing weekend.
Wish list:
Regulation win at Sunderland.
Arsenal emulate City and stop the Blue war machine
And just for kicks, Newcastle beat City, Andy Carroll nets a few and Fabio calls him up.