English League Cup Fourth Round: Southend skipper Kevin Maher is looking forward to pitting himself against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo when the Shrimpers take on Manchester United at Roots Hall in the English League Cup tonight.
The 30-year-old former Tottenham trainee, who has been at Southend for nine years, said: "In terms of importance we've had bigger games, but this is one we can enjoy. They have some of the best players in the country, if not the world, and they are on top of their game at the moment."
United manager Alex Ferguson, who kicks off his 21st year in charge, is set to unleash his big guns for tonight's clash. He has named Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad.
Ferguson's policy of blooding his youngsters in the competition almost backfired in the last round when they needed a Kieran Lee goal in extra-time to squeeze past Crewe, and with the last eight within touching distance Southend are expecting the holders to field a strong line-up.
Chesterfield manager Roy McFarland will "wait until the very last minute" before deciding whether League Cup goal hero Caleb Folan is fit for the fourth-round visit of Charlton tonight.
The Spireites' leading scorer, who has scored against Manchester City and West Ham in the previous two rounds, suffered a hamstring strain in the weekend defeat at Gillingham and did not train yesterday.
Mark Hughes is nursing a knee problem following his goalscoring debut at the Priestfield Stadium and is also a doubt along with Mark Allott (leg), who did not make the trip to Kent.
"Caleb had a tight hamstring at half-time but battled on for another 35 minutes before we eventually took him off on Saturday," McFarland said.
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder will make a late decision on his side for the trip to Watford as he waits for news on several players.
Roeder hopes to have Frenchman Antoine Sibierski back from a toe injury. Goalkeeper Shay Given may travel after recovering from abdominal surgery but is unlikely to figure, while striker Shola Ameobi is facing an operation for a hip problem and Kieron Dyer is recovering from an eye injury.
Richard Lee is set to continue in goal for Watford while Ben Foster recovers from a knee injury. Striker Marlon King has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury while defender Clarke Carlisle has a thigh problem. Manager Adrian Boothroyd may opt to rest first teamers ahead of the match with Chelsea at the weekend.
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