The first Premier League match of 2015 sees 13-time champions Manchester United travel to Stoke City on Thursday lunchtime.

2014 ended much brighter than it began for the Red Devils as Louis van Gaal's expensively-assembled squad began to look close to title contenders.

A nine-match unbeaten streak has seen them climb to third in the table, 10 points adrift of Chelsea at the halfway point of the season.

Van Gaal has described himself as being "satisfied" with his first six months in English football, which have been made more difficult by a revolving door of injuries.

Angel di Maria, Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini, Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia are all out of the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

Nevertheless, the Dutchman, who named an unchanged side for the first time during his reign in the 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, is likely to return to rotation for a third game in seven days after claiming that United were 'short of life' in the second half at White Hart Lane.

Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj resumed training this week and are in contention for places on the bench. Rafael and Luke Shaw are further along in their recoveries and may be promoted to the starting XI.

Captain Wayne Rooney seems poised to continue in midfield, but Van Gaal could hand a start to youngster James Wilson in attack should he wish to rest one of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao amid fitness doubts.

Potters fans will be pleased to enter 2015 11th after another year of transition under Mark Hughes, which ended with consecutive wins for the first time this season courtesy of a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Bargain buy Bojan, who is believed to have cost less than £3m from Barcelona in the summer, has been integral to Stoke becoming steadily more aesthetic and has contributed three goals and an assist in recent weeks.

However, the silky Spaniard is a major doubt for New Year's Day with a back injury. Hughes will also have to do without Peter Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Steve Sidwell and Phil Bardsley for the visit of his former club.

Charlie Adam may be asked to take on the playmaking responsibilities in one of two changes for the hosts. Jonathan Walters should be recalled at the expense of Peter Crouch after overcoming a bout of illness.

Former Old Trafford flop Mame Biram Diouf, who ended a nine-game drought with a double against the Baggies, will be looking to prove a point to the club who refused him a Premier League start in a two-and-a-half-year spell.

United have lost on only one of their last six trips to the Britannia - last season's 2-1 defeat under David Moyes - but reversed the scoreline to beat the Potters at home less than a month ago.

Stoke:

Recent form: LWDLWW

Possible starting lineup: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; N'Zonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Adam, Walters; Diouf

Man United:

Recent form: WWWDWD

Possible starting lineup: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Evans; Rafael, Carrick, Rooney, Shaw; Mata; Van Persie, Wilson

Sports Mole says: 1-2