Gallas and Silvestre out for another two to three weeks, Fabregas and Rosicky out long term. Walcott perhaps back in the next month or so, Eduardo is fully recovered from injury and ready to play perhaps towards the end of this month

Our unbeaten run in the league now stretches to a gargantuan seven games, with two wins either side of a run of three draws. This is a game we should really be looking to win, at a ground where Sunderland and Wigan scored four and five goals respectively, in order to keep plugging away at Villa in the hope that their run of lucky moments bailing them out of poor performances comes to an end soon, a goalkeeper own goal in a derby the latest incident to keep us outside the top four. We also need to keep clear of Everton who are only three points behind us despite being pretty much bereft of strikers, although we play them at Goodison Park in a week and a half’s time which would be a good opportunity to create a gap there. In Fabregas’ absence this team needs to develop confidence, a run of wins being the best way to do that, and we now have a run of fixtures up until April where we should be able to get some good results. We’re only four points off Chelsea now, and while we still won’t be involved in any title race it would be nice to be nearer the top three.

Our record against newly promoted teams this season has been pretty dismal, one win and two losses from our three attempts. Revenge will hopefully be in the players’ minds, eight of the players likely to start were involved in the defeat to Hull in the first half of the season. After their somewhat remarkable start to the season, which included coming from a goal down to beat us 2-1 away and scoring three goals at Old Trafford, Hull have since won only one game in their last thirteen in all competitions, before winning in the FA Cup against Newcastle during the week. Five of those results were draws, and they’ve lost their last four games in the league. Despite their current inability to win in the league they still sit a respectable eighth in the table, just slightly clear of the set of teams where it seems like one loss or one win can move you about seven places in the table. Their away form is superior to their home form, they’ve won three and drawn two at home, won four and drawn four away. They’ve conceded more goals at home so far this season than any other team, and are the third lowest scorers at home, behind only Bolton, and the lowest scorers, Spurs (heh).

Team News

Gallas and Silvestre out for another two to three weeks, Fabregas and Rosicky out long term. Walcott perhaps back in the next month or so, Eduardo is fully recovered from injury and ready to play perhaps towards the end of this month, but will need some reserve games to get his match fitness back. If there are no new injuries, the team that started against Bolton will probably be the team that starts the rest of the league games in January. Song will face a late fitness test, but there doesn’t seem any point in rushing him back when he have Denilson, Diaby and Ramsey as alternative central midfield options. He’ll probably make the bench.

Subs: Fabianski, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Wilshere, Vela, Bendtner.

Manchester United have kindly taken it upon themselves to loan Hull a striker a few days before this game. Manucho has secured a work permit and is cleared to play but may only make the bench in his first game. New signing Kevin Kilbane could also make the squad. Folan and Boatend are out injured but Gardner and Dawson return to the squad following injury. Zayatte is suspended for this fixture.