Keegan targets Cup glory in bid for major honours

KEVIN KEEGAN is targeting the Carling Cup as Manchester City’s best chance of ending their long wait for major honours.

Keegan admits the prospects of success in the Premiership and UEFA Cup are slight. So he will take his strongest possible squad to Loftus Road tonight for the third round clash with Queen’s Park Rangers.

Only Steve McManaman will sit out for City as he is given extra time to recover from an Achilles strain.

Keegan insists City can ill afford to follow the example of some of their Premiership rivals in taking the competition lightly.

“Manchester City cannot afford to say that we will go for Europe and the Championship. We are the sort of side that sees the Carling Cup and the FA Cup as the two opportunities we have to win some silverware and get back into Europe,” he said.

Eyal Berkovic is likely to earn a recall for City after being rested for Saturday’s defeat at Chelsea. And Keegan’s other major option is to restore Paulo Wanchope up front in place of either Nicolas Anelka or Robbie Fowler.

But however strong his starting line-up Keegan will not be complacent with memories of last season’s defeat at Wigan still fresh in the mind.

“I took a strong team to Wigan and we got beaten and that may well happen at QPR. But this is a competition we will treat with the utmost respect because it gives us the chance of getting back into Europe.”

McManaman is considered fit but will not be risked ahead of Saturday’s important Premiership trip to Southampton. But he will be urging on his team-mates as he craves more cup clashes later in the season.

McManaman admits he missed the cut-and-thrust of knockout action during his spell in Spain where domestic cup competitions are virtually meaningless.

“A team of this calibre hasn’t been involved in trophy-winning games for a long while so we want it again,” he said.

Gareth Ainsworth is an injury worry for QPR boss Ian Holloway. Ainsworth is suffering from severe bruising to his right ankle following the 1-1 draw with Tranmere.

Striker Paul Furlong missed that match with a bruised hip but is now back in training and in contention. He hopes to replace the cup-tied Tony Thorpe in the starting line-up at Loftus Road.

Matthew Rose has also returned to training following a knee injury but remains a fortnight away from a comeback.