' Ryan Giggs '

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs in line for emotional start against hometown club Cardiff City.

Tuesday 19th Nov 2013

David Moyes set to turn to Cardiff-born Old Trafford icon for first ever game against the Bluebirds as injuries hit his midfield options ahead of Cardiff City Stadium clash


Ryan Giggs, could start against hometown club Cardiff City this weekend.

Ryan Giggs is in line for an emotional start against hometown club Cardiff City this weekend after Manchester United were plunged into an injury crisis just days before the champions’ clash with the Bluebirds.

Cardiff-born Giggs, who turns 40 later this month, has been restricted to just 180 minutes of Premier League action this season as he undertakes an incredible 24th season at the top of the game.

But United boss David Moyes looks set to turn to the Premier League legend to solve a midfield headache – meaning Giggs will face his hometown club for the first time in a peerless 23 year career.

Moyes will be desperate for three points at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday as he looks to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal after a slow start to the season, but he will have to cope without a string of central midfield options.

The Scot – who replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as Red Devils chief at the start of the season – was already without key man Michael Carrick after the 32-year was ruled out for up to six weeks with an achilles problem.

But Phil Jones was yesterday confirmed as being sidelined with a ten-day absence likely after he was forced to withdraw from last night’s England friendly with Germany with a groin injury.

Jones featured in the middle for United in the 1-0 win over Arsenal before the international break, and with Belgium star Marouane Fellaini potentially going under the knife for wrist surgery and Brazilian Anderson remaining a bit-part figure under Moyes, the ex-Everton boss will look to the experience of Giggs to partner Tom Cleverley against the Bluebirds.

Wayne Rooney could be asked to play deeper for United’s first visit to Cardiff City Stadium, although Moyes has previously stressed how keen he is to stay further up the field where he has rediscovered his best form this season.

And in a career full of landmarks, it would see Giggs’ mark his 666th league game for United against the club from where he hails. Giggs has played for Man Utd in Cardiff previously, featuring in cup finals at the Millennium Stadium, while his last game in the Welsh capital was a part of the Team GB Olympic side that bowed out of the 2012 Games in a penalty shoot-out at the same venue.



Moyes is also without striker Danny Welbeck for the trip to South Wales with a knee injury, while Robin van Persie withdrew from the Netherlands squad complaining of toe and groin injuries, although the Dutch star is expected to recover to lead the line against Malky Mackay’s men.

Mackay will be tonight sweating on his own international stars coming through their respective matches unscathed, Aron Gunnarsson, David Marshall, Kim Bo-Kyung and Gary Medel expected back at the club’s training ground over the next 48 hours after being on duty for their country over the past week.

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This could be a great opportunity for us to pick points up against united, I would be happy with 1

Giggs is a legend; and a Welsh one, too!

I hope he'll get a warm welcome at the CCS

Then the game will kick off...and that is a different matter!

*Insert slating for not playing for country enough here*

It'll be good to see him play, if he does, but I don't think it'll be that emotional for Giggs - he doesn't really have any attachment to CCFC as such.

Warm welcome from me before the game.

Emotional ??? Has he ever mentioned us ? Hmmmmmmm

Fabulous player one of the best of all time and a good servant to national football (14 caps less than Bellamy) but he's not really "Cardiff" is he? He's Welsh, but beyond that it's hard to see him as anything other than Man U then.

Emotional return to hometown club?

f**k off. Cardiff is not really his hometown club is it, he was born here and moved to Manchster at a very young age, he don't care for the club, city of the country he's a Manc through and through

f**k him, I hope he gets shit

I'm sure years back he said he'd play/manage us. So I think we may be his second team.

Fabulous player one of the best of all time and a good servant to national football (14 caps less than Bellamy) but he's not really "Cardiff" is he? He's Welsh, but beyond that it's hard to see him as anything other than Man U then.

People will slate him for avoiding country yet picking up over 50 caps.

The most decorated welsh player in history.
A living legend.
And born in Cardiff.

Anything other than a good reception would be insulting in my opinion.


As Cardiffians we should be proud of Ryan.

Just another opposition player as far as I'm concerned.

As others have said, can't recall him ever expressing any affinity with Cardiff City.

If he plays. I hope he has a shit game.

Just another opposition player as far as I'm concerned.

As others have said, can't recall him ever expressing any affinity with Cardiff City.

If he plays. I hope he has a shit game.

Agree with this

He has said before he keeps an eye on our results

whatever he is still a wales legend (regardless of how many times he played for wales)

Neeever..how be!
Ryan giggs is more Cardiff than some of you yurrrr. Born and bred in Cardiff, pure Ely boy he is

If he felt he was from Manchester, surely he would've played for England? He played for the England youths.

He's surely a legend? Especially how he completely modified his game in recent years. I'm not the biggest fan of the international stage, but regardless of his pulling out of Wales games, he still got a fair few caps over the years. Slightly off topic, but I wonder how many friendlies Bale and Ramsey will play if their stock keeps growing. And if they did drop international games, would Cardiff fans question their credentials as Bluebirds?

And back on the topic of Giggs, I was one of the people who thought that 2 seasons (or so) ago. when the season finished and he seemed destined to miss out on Man Utd's appearance record, that that was it. Yet he managed to play on, and almost always plays well when he gets game time.

If he felt he was from Manchester, surely he would've played for England? He played for the England youths.

He's surely a legend? Especially how he completely modified his game in recent years. I'm not the biggest fan of the international stage, but regardless of his pulling out of Wales games, he still got a fair few caps over the years. Slightly off topic, but I wonder how many friendlies Bale and Ramsey will play if their stock keeps growing. And if they did drop international games, would Cardiff fans question their credentials as Bluebirds?

And back on the topic of Giggs, I was one of the people who thought that 2 seasons (or so) ago. when the season finished and he seemed destined to miss out on Man Utd's appearance record, that that was it. Yet he managed to play on, and almost always plays well when he gets game time.

OT your username, are you a Hearts fan?

Great player blah blah blah,but I don't go in for the"he was born in cardiff"thing. He will be try hard to take the 3 points off us so I hope he has a mare. Give me english lads in cardiff shirts anytime you like

Has never mentioned us at all. Ever.

No affinity with us and couldnt be bothered to play for Wales either so wont be getting cheers from me i'm afraid.

Also If there are Jamboids on this forum i'm sure your outnumbered by us Hibbes

Id never applaud a man who shit on his own brother

I always welcome and applaud ex city players who played well or gave their all for the club. Time wasters and people who spoke ill of the fans no............and as far as giggs goes....well he never played for us and never will so he would get the same welcome as all the other players who visit the city.

Judas and Shit on your country will be two of my favourite phrases for Sunday !

If he felt he was from Manchester, surely he would've played for England? He played for the England youths.

He's surely a legend? Especially how he completely modified his game in recent years. I'm not the biggest fan of the international stage, but regardless of his pulling out of Wales games, he still got a fair few caps over the years. Slightly off topic, but I wonder how many friendlies Bale and Ramsey will play if their stock keeps growing. And if they did drop international games, would Cardiff fans question their credentials as Bluebirds?

And back on the topic of Giggs, I was one of the people who thought that 2 seasons (or so) ago. when the season finished and he seemed destined to miss out on Man Utd's appearance record, that that was it. Yet he managed to play on, and almost always plays well when he gets game time.

OT your username, are you a Hearts fan?

No buddy. My name's Benjamin, so my nickname was Jamin and that somehow got morphed into Jambo along the way. Had a good save with them on Football Manager once mind!

Fabulous player one of the best of all time and a good servant to national football (14 caps less than Bellamy) but he's not really "Cardiff" is he? He's Welsh, but beyond that it's hard to see him as anything other than Man U then.

People will slate him for avoiding country yet picking up over 50 caps.

64 caps in a 23 year career? Yeah, what a legend eh?

The bloke should be ashamed of his lack of commitment to his country.

Fabulous player one of the best of all time and a good servant to national football (14 caps less than Bellamy) but he's not really "Cardiff" is he? He's Welsh, but beyond that it's hard to see him as anything other than Man U then.

People will slate him for avoiding country yet picking up over 50 caps.

64 caps in a 23 year career? Yeah, what a legend eh?

The bloke should be ashamed of his lack of commitment to his country.

For once i agree with you!

Giggs was a great player in his time for Utd. For wales he lacked commitment-maybe it was being bullied by Fergie not to go but he needs to look at the likes of Craig Bellamy and John Hartson who were proud to wear their countries kits in meaningless friendlies and proper qualifiers.

I am sure the reds will be giving him a rousing welcome, after a lot of them have United as their second team.

People will slate him for avoiding country yet picking up over 50 caps.

& had he actually been committed, he would have picked up a hell of a lot more.

Great player, no question but I always got the feeling that he regretted playing for Wales. The number of caps backs that up. Gareth Bale is 24 and has nearly played as many times as Giggs in his whole career. Says it all.

I remember waiting ages to see him open the reebok shop, him and his minders barged through all the people, cut the ribbon or whatever and then f*cked off straight away. i was raging! I dont know what i was expecting tbh, maybe some keepyuppys at least !!!

People make out he has played hardly any games. Cry babies.