Robin van Persie is not in the Manchester United squad for their trip to Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, but Nemanja Vidic does return to skipper the Premier League champions.

Van Persie has not been able to shake off the groin strain that kept him out of the draw with Cardiff City, but Vidic has recovered from a head injury to partner Jonny Evans at centre-half.

Chris Smalling is named at right-back on his and David de Gea's 100th Red Devils appearance, while Phil Jones is preferred to Anderson and Marouane Fellaini in the middle of the park.

Danny Welbeck partners Wayne Rooney in attack, while Shinji Kagawa is given the nod ahead of Nani on the wing. Neither Ryan Giggs or Adnan Januzaj are in the United squad.

Andre Villas-Boas again leaves out Andros Townsend, but this time it is Nacer Chadli, and not Erik Lamela, who is omitted completely, who takes his spot on the wing opposite Aaron Lennon.

Moussa Dembele comes into the side that was thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City last weekend as Villas-Boas reinforces his midfield, while Vlad Chriches replaces Younes Kaboul in the centre of defence.

Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Vertonghen; Paulinho, Sandro; Lennon, Dembele, Chadli; Soldado
Subs: Friedel, Kaboul, Capoue, Holtby, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Defoe

United: De Gea; Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Jones, Kagawa, Welbeck; Rooney
Subs: Lindegaard, Rafael, Anderson, Fellaini, Nani, Young, Hernandez