Manchester United will pick strong team despite Hong Kong Stadium pitch fears
Manager David Moyes insists much-maligned surface at Hong Kong Stadium does not unduly concern him or players ahead of Kitchee game
Manchester United manager David Moyes promised to send out his best possible squad when his team take on domestic heavyweights Kitchee in an international friendly at the much-maligned Hong Kong Stadium tonight.
Hong Kong is the final destination in the Premier League champions' 2013 tour of Asia after matches in Thailand, Australia and Japan; so far they have only one won game out of four, in Sydney.
But United are likely to prove too strong for the home side with the likes of Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie set to be involved.
The Dutch international will be the home crowd's favourite after his absence from the Arsenal squad that played in Hong Kong last summer. The only player definitely out is Jonny Evans, who is feeling his ankle.
Moyes said earlier last week he was concerned about the pitch conditions at the So Kon Po venue, with the surface taking a hammering over the last few days because of almost non-stop rain and four matches played on it in the Barclays Asia Trophy, but the Scot played down those worries yesterday.
"The weather did not help, but there is nothing people here in Hong Kong could do to make it any better," he said. "The weather was terrible for three or four days as far as I know. It's drying out now, which might make it worse if it became bobbly.