A midfield reshuffle by Swansea City manager Garry Monk has afforded Jonathan de Guzman a more advanced role. Typically utilised in the double-pivot in front of the Swans’ back-four, the Dutchman has been moved to the right of the attacking midfield three behind Wilfried Bony over the last couple of matches and bagged a brace in the 3-0 win over Norwich City last weekend.
Gus Poyet’s decision to alter Sunderland’s formation in each of the last couple of matches has forced Adam Johnson out of the starting line-up. The Black Cats boss has switched to a 3-5-2 system and handed full-backs Phil Bardsley and Marcos Alonso the wide roles in a midfield five, but his side have struggled to break down opponents and have relied upon Johnson’s impact off the bench late on in matches. The winger has supplied a goal and assist in back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Liverpool and West Ham and has now played a part in 10 of the Wearsiders’ 14 goals since the turn of the year, with seven goals and three assists accrued. With just eight fixtures left to stave off the threat of relegation, Johnson’s displays as a substitute could well earn him a first-team recall and persuade his manager to revert to a 4-3-3 formation once again.
Robin van Persie’s knee injury looks to have been beneficial for Manchester United midfield pair Shinji Kagawa and Juan Mata. With Wayne Rooney shifted to the more advanced forward role, Mata has been fielded in his preferred role in “the hole” in two of the last three matches and grabbed a goal and assist in last Saturday’s emphatic home win over Aston Villa. The Spaniard’s move to the middle has subsequently freed up a spot on the flanks, allowing Kagawa to be drafted into the starting XI – the Japan international supplied the cross for Rooney’s first goal at the weekend and looks poised for further game time as a result of Van Persie’s ongoing absence. But with Rooney injured it is likely that Welbeck will get that advanced role. Hernandez has a chance too.
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