Preview: United Women v Leicester City
Manchester United Women are back in action this Thursday evening when we welcome Leicester City to Leigh Sports Village for the Continental Tyres League Cup.
United currently sit second in Group B behind Manchester City, who will not play this week due to the uneven number of teams, giving the Reds an opportunity to end the calendar year on top.
Ahead of the Foxes’ visit to Leigh, here are the key things to know…
Press conference: United Women v Leicester
Press conference | Marc Skinner previews our home Conti Cup clash and reacts to our FA Cup draw...
HOW CAN I WATCH THE GAME?
Our game against Willie Kirk’s side is set for a 19:00 GMT kick-off and will be shown live on MUTV in the UK & Ireland.
You can also follow the game on ManUtd.com and in the United App, where we will also provide regular updates, along with a match report and post-match reaction.
Tickets are still on sale for fans wanting to attend, with prices starting from just £12 for adults. Visit this link to secure your seat now!
Emma Watson, Gabby George, Jessica Simpson, and Aoife Mannion remain long-term absentees for United, and they were recently joined by Evie Rabjohn on the injured list.
Both Irene Guerrero and Hinata Miyazawa are not expected to feature before the Christmas break, with just two games remaining before the turn of the year. Everyone who featured in our 4-0 away win over Spurs last weekend is currently available.
The Foxes are expected to be without a handful of key players, including Deanne Rose who has a problem with her hamstring. She is joined by Shannon O’Brien and Remy Siemsen, with all of them set for a spell on the sidelines.
Skinner: We want to be clinical in the cup
ArticleMarc addresses the media ahead of Thursday's Conti Cup clash with Leicester City.
Kirk’s side are currently third in Group B, one point behind the Reds and trailing first-placed City by two.
Leicester opened their campaign in this competition with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool - former United midfielder Aimee Palmer opened the scoring. Natasha Flint equalised for the visitors just before half-time, but Hannah Cain’s strike shortly after the restart secured all three points for the hosts.
Their next test in the Conti Cup would come in the form of Manchester City, with Kirk’s players gaining control of the game prior to the interval. A quick-fire double from Janice Cayman and Sophie Howard set them on their way, but Deyna Castellanos and Laura Coombs each struck in the second half to secure at least a point for Gareth Taylor’s side. It would, however, be the Foxes who picked up the extra point on offer, by winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
PREVIOUS MEETING
We’ve already met Leicester City once this season, in a WSL game that was also contested in front of the Leigh Sports Village faithful. An even affair ultimately ended in the points being shared, with Aileen Whelan giving the visitors the lead on the hour mark before Maya Le Tissier’s effort levelled things up seven minutes later.
There are plenty of other Continental Cup ties being played over the next two days…
WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER
Aston Villa v Durham (18:00 GMT)
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland
Everton v Liverpool
Bristol City v Reading (19:30 GMT)
THURSDAY 14 DECEMBER
UNITED v Leicester City
*All kick-off times 19:00 GMT unless stated otherwise.