Manchester United will be expected to claim the three points on Saturday when they welcome struggling Sunderland to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side opened up a six-point gap at the top of the table last weekend with a dramatic 3-2 victory at neighbours Manchester City.

Saturday's opponents Sunderland have been in poor form as of late, but a comfortable 3-0 win over Reading on Monday may send the Black Cats to the Theatre of Dreams with some confidence.

United captain Nemanja Vidic is expected to return following a three-month absence with a knee injury, while Jonny Evans will miss the match with a hamstring problem.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are still without the injured pair of Wes Brown and Lee Cattermole.

Recent form

Man Utd: LWWWLW

Sunderland: WLDLLW

Possible lineups

Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Young, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia; Rooney, Van Persie

Sunderland: Mignolet; O'Shea, Cuellar, Rose; Larsson, Gardner, Colback, Johnson, McClean; Sessegnon, Fletcher

Sports Mole says: 2-0