Monk: We want performance to be proud of

Garry Monk is looking for Wednesday to produce a performance to be proud of when we take on Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round clash at Hillsborough tomorrow night.

While acknowledging that we face the toughest of challenges against the Premier League champions, and in the midst of a shocking run in the league, Monk said: “We’ve earned the right to face City.

“We’ve put in two really good performances, two results that people probably didn’t expect – especially the Brighton one where we gave a great account of ourselves.

“If we can produce the same type of performance and the same levels then we can cause our own problems, we have to get a lot of things right for that to happen but let’s challenge ourselves and rise to the occasion and I’m sure the players will.

“Hopefully we can come out of the game with a really good performance, something that we can be proud of and then take that confidence into the game at the weekend as well.”

Talking about the City squad, Monk said: “We are going to play against the reigning champions of England, we all know the challenge that brings, the quality of what they bring.

“We are working to try to put ourselves in the best position to give a really good account of ourselves. We know how difficult it is going to be, how big the odds are against us achieving an outcome that we want but it is the challenge that you should want.”

He added: “We are going to have to be very, very good from a defensive point of view and there are certain ways we feel in which we can attack and could cause them problems.

“That’s the same as every game but we are, of course, playing a much bigger opponent with much more quality, much more danger and we need to get all of it right and at a very high level.”

Monk confirmed that Steven Fletcher will play some part in the game, the striker being substituted at half-time in Saturday’s defeat to Derby as he was struggling with tiredeness, following his recent early return to action after a lengthy injury lay-off.

Loanees Josh Windass and Connor Wickham are cup tied while Monk could well give places in the squad to youngsters Alex Hunt and Osaze Urhoghide, the pair not figuring in the under-23s 2-1 defeat at Wigan last night.

Massimo Luongo (calf) and Moses Odubajo (hamstring) resumed training this week with Adam Reach (toe) likely to do likewise next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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