Sunderland vs Manchester United
Robin van Persie's return to the Manchester United line-up gives new manager Louis van Gaal some welcome good news ahead of the Premier League match away to Sunderland on Sunday.
Van Gaal, hoping to bounce back from the 2-1 opening weekend defeat by Swansea, has been beset by injuries in midfield and Ander Herrera is the latest to be absent, with an ankle problem, alongside Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard.
Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia could also miss the trip to the Stadium of Light but while Van Gaal has concerns in those areas, he has his first-choice attack available.
Van Persie was given extra time off after playing for a Netherlands side coached by compatriot van Gaal that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Brazil.
But this weekend could see the striker make his first appearance in the Premier League since the 3-0 defeat by Liverpool in March. Van Gaal's 3-4-1-2 formation is geared towards getting the best out of a forward three of Juan Mata playing behind Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.
Since Spain midfielder Mata joined from Chelsea for a United record £37.1 million (Dhs 225m) in January, the trio have started just six times together in the Premier League.
Van Gaal is excited about the prospect of seeing van Persie and England striker Rooney, whom he has made United captain, playing in attack together.
"Robin is ready to play so that's a big benefit for our team so I'm very happy that he's now able to play," said van Gaal. "In theory it should be a very good couple (with Rooney). They can score a lot of goals and I hope it shall show that."
'Win quickly'
Meanwhile van Gaal has renewed his call for patience in the wake of the shock defeat by Swansea. The Dutchman joked he had gone from a king to a devil in the space of two weeks.
While he has made light of the reaction to a first defeat since he took over, he accepts that United must get off the mark against Gus Poyet's Sunderland side.
Van Gaal added: "For sportsmen you know that you can lose a game. I think that the players have suffered that last year too and I think they have responded well.
"In pre-season in the United States we beat good opponents but I agree with the media that you have to win a home match against Swansea.
"I know that we have to win very quickly. Every game in the Premier League is a very difficult game, You have to win and that's not simple.
"Sunderland will do everything, with the support of the home crowd, it will be a tough game but we need a victory and we'll do everything."
Team news:
Sunderland
Gus Poyet will welcome defenders Billy Jones and Santiago Vergini back into his squad. Jones missed the 2-2 draw with former club West Brom because of a troublesome hamstring, while Vergini is understood to have sat out because of an administrative problem. That means Poyet’s only significant absentee will be Emanuele Giaccherini, who continues his recovery from a groin injury.
Manchester United
Striker Robin van Persie is fully fit and available for United. Midfielders Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera (all ankle) are out, as is utility man Jesse Lingard, who has a knee injury, but Antonio Valencia has recovered from the leg problem that kept him out of the defeat to Swansea. New signing Marcos Rojo is unavailable as he awaits a work permit.
Likely line-ups:
Sunderland (4-5-1) Mannone, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt, Roberge, Buckley, Larsson, Cattermole, Rodwell, Johnson, Fletcher
Manchester United (3-5-2) De Gea, Blackett, Smalling, Jones, Young, Cleverley, Fletcher, Valencia, Mata, Van Persie, Rooney.
Key players:
Sunderland
Jack Rodwell
Had a slightly muted debut display against West Brom, but manager Gus Poyet himself admits it’ll take some time
before the midfielder is fully match-fit. Rodwell, though, has a sizeable point to prove following a largely wasted two seasons at Manchester City and these are the sort of games he will be wanting to shine in to try and force his way back into the England
reckoning.
Manchester United
Ashley Young
Despite being on the receiving end of a significant amount of abuse from the United faithful, Louis van Gaal appears to rate Young. Deployed as an unfamiliar left wing-back, he’ll need to perform better than last week when he was found wanting, especially in a defensive sense. That said, there is plenty of ability there and if anyone can get the best out of Young, it’s Van Gaal.
