Newcastle Preview .. Schmeichel to start
By Andy Leggott
August 23 2002
Kevin Keegan has announced that Peter Schmeichel will start in tomorrow's game at home to Newcastle. The game is the first of the last ever season at Maine Road and City will be hoping for their first points of the campaign.
Newcastle Preview …. Schmeichel to ReturnKevin Keegan is set to hand Peter Schmeichel his Manchester City debut tomorrow in the televised game at home to Newcastle United. The official website is reporting Keegan as saying that Schmeichel will definitely start. This is in stark contrast to reports earlier today that he was still two weeks away from full fitness.City will be looking for an improvement on last week’s result at Leeds in what will be the first game of the last ever season at Maine Road. With Schmeichel set for his debut, Carlo Nash will make way and take Tim Flower’s place on the bench. Steve Howey, Sun Jihai and Eyal Berkovic have all recovered from the knocks they picked up at Leeds and should all figure in the starting eleven. Kevin Horlock is likely to drop to the bench as Keegan looks for a cutting edge by returning to two up front. Darren Huckerby is the likely choice to replace him though don’t be surprised if the Goat gets the nod. Newcastle will be without Craig Bellamy and Gary Speed but could welcome back Laurent Robert after injury. Keegan will be looking for revenge for last season’s cup defeat at Newcastle although confidence is high in the Geordie camp after a convincing 4-0 win at home to West Ham on Monday. Three points are vital in this one to get the season up and running. If City can match last week’s performance and add goals it could be a thriller. I’ll take the blues as ever to come through with a 3-2 win. |