Capital One Cup: Wilfried Zaha set for rare start against Norwich City

Wilfried Zaha (R) is in contention to start against Norwich in Manchester United’s fourth round tie in the Capital One Cup

Young English winger Wilfried Zaha could make a rare start for Manchester United in their fourth round tie against Norwich City at Old Trafford tonight.

Zaha has not featured for United, not even as a substitute, since playing in the Community Shield game against Wigan at the start of the season. However, manager David Moyes has revealed that the youngster is in contention for a starting spot against Chris Hughton’s Norwich side.

“I just don’t think we have had the right opportunity to get him on as much as would have liked,” Moyes told the United website. “We don’t want to put him in too quickly. We want to make it the right time.”

“I’ve said I would look at it in January as I wanted to have him here for six months to see how we work.”

“I told him we would try to get him minutes but the competition in the wide areas we have with Nani, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj and even Shinji Kagawa playing off the side means we are as strong there as anywhere.”

“It’s not that Wilf has done anything wrong, it’s just that we have big competition and we have to try to make sure he gets some playing time.”

“Unfortunately, we haven’t done that with Wilf and, if it’s still the case in January, we would look at it. But he is very much in my plans and in my thoughts all the time.”

Zaha was bought by former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson from Crystal Palace for over 12 million pounds in January this year, before being loaned back to the Eagles for the remainder of the season.

He had impressed in pre-season during United’s tour of Asia and was expected to feature more prominently due to his early form and the non-performance of more senior wingers such as Young, Nani and Valencia. However, the youngster has found himself marginalized at Old Trafford and Moyes was said to be keen on sending him out on loan in January.

Striker Javier Hernandez and defender Alexander Buttner are also expected to come into the side in place of some of the other regulars.