Source: Daily_Mail
Owen rewarded for Manchester derby heroics with United starting spot
Michael Owen's reward for his dramatic Manchester derby match-winner is set to be a place in United's starting line-up for the start of their Carling Cup defence at Old Trafford tomorrow night.
Owen has started just one game so far this term but is set to double that tally against Wolves, with Sir Alex Ferguson set to make huge changes to the side that began Sunday's amazing victory over City.
Tomasz Kuszczak is set to take over in goal from Ben Foster, while Wes Brown should take a central defensive berth alongside Jonny Evans.
Michael Owen
Tinkering: Michael Owen is set to double his season's tally of one starting appearance as Sir Alex Ferguson rings the changes for the Carling Cup tie
Meanwhile Patrice Evra has admitted Ferguson's famous hairdryer would have been ready if United had failed to beat City in the derby-day thriller.
In the aftermath of United's 4-3 win, Ferguson claimed his side should have won 'by six or seven' such was their domination of Mark Hughes' side.
While that assessment does not do justice to City's efforts, particularly before the break when, if anything, they were marginally the better side, undoubtedly the Red Devils were on top after half-time.
Patrice Evra (left)
Phew: Patrice Evra (left) has revealed fears United would have received a blast from Fergie's famous hairdryer if they had not beaten Manchester City
And, in squandering the lead on three successive occasions, the first and last of which were a direct result of terrible defensive mistakes, Evra knows Ferguson would not have been a happy man if Owen's last-ditch strike had not finally settled the contest in United's favour.
'It would have been very difficult to go inside the dressing room if we had drawn,' Evra said. 'I think the manager would have given the hairdryer to everybody.
'But to score like that, in the last second of the game, was just amazing. The players on the bench were coming on the pitch, the fans, the atmosphere - this is why I say thanks to God I play in the Premier League and for United.'
United's Michael Owen (left) scores the winning goal in the Manchester derby
Match-winner: Owen (left) scores United's fourth in dramatic fashion on Sunday
The FA might have the last word on Gary Neville's over-the-top goal celebration, plus Craig Bellamy's clash with a fan immediately after Owen's match-winner. But Evra is more focused on a title race in which everyone, apart from Chelsea, has now lost at least one game.
'It was important to win because City hadn't lost,' he said. 'When we were drawing, I was thinking that people would start to say that City are still strong because they never lose. Now everybody has lost, except for Chelsea.'
Manchester United team (from): Kuszczak, Zieler, Amos, De Laet, Neville, Brown, J Evans, Dudgeon, Fabio, Tosic, Gibson, C Evans, Eikrem, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Nani, Owen, Welbeck, Macheda, King.
