Who will be selected to tame the Black Cats?
Manchester United will be looking to get back to winning ways at the weekend against Sunderland after their shock defeat to Swansea last week.
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United led the Welsh side through a wonderful team goal, dutifully dispatched by Ander Herrera, however the Swans came back and consigned Luis van Gaal’s side to just their second defeat in 20 games.
They’ll be hoping for a comfortable match against Gus Poyet’s side who look surely destined for a gruesome relegation scrap.
Here’s how the Red Devils could line up at Old Trafford this weekend:
GK: David De Gea
Perhaps the only man who deserves his place every week in the United XI and the player almost solely responsible for ensuring his team are where they are in the table given his truly outstanding form.
RB: Antonio Valencia
Could be called in the place of Paddy McNair as United will feel they need less of a defensive presence on the wings against the Black Cats
CB: Phil Jones
Picked up just his second yellow of the season against the Welsh side in a season that has seen him become a permanent fixture in the United XI and drastically improve his consistency. He’ll continue at the back as long as he’s fit.
CB: Marcos Rojo
Hit and miss season so far for Rojo who was lucky not give away a penalty against Swansea whilst at the other end should have done better from a Di Maria corner that could have seen United take the lead early in the second half.
Will have to do better if he wants to keep out Chris Smalling.
LB: Luke Shaw
Could have an interesting battle down the left hand side with Ricky Alvarez likely cutting-in onto his left foot, an intriguing puzzle for the young Shaw to solve.
However, will have to be careful as van Gaal won’t be afraid to remove him as he did against Swansea when he allowed Ki to run across him for his equalising goal.
RM: Ander Herrera
Started the last two matches for United after fans were pining for his involvement, and they’ve certainly be proved right with the Spaniard scoring the opening goal in both games.
He’ll certainly be confident of three in three if he again begins the match from the off.
CM: Daley Blind
Was startlingly anonymous against Swansea last week, so much so that his presence only became known after a number of fouls.
His lack of bite and fight will need to be addressed against a likely midfield bout with the irritable Lee Cattermole, he will definitely need to be more robust for.
LM: Angel Di Maria
Given the criticism the likes of Mesut Ozil have come under after failing to live up to the hype, it’s strange the Argentine hasn’t come under the same scrutiny.
However, the total blame can hardly be put on him with van Gaal insisting on playing him here, there and everywhere except the position he made his own in his last year at Real Madrid.
He’ll be hoping his more frequent starts on the wings will see him re-discover that brilliant form for the end of season run-in.
CAM: Marouane Fellaini
The insistence to keep using Fellaini as a battering ram rather than attempt to find a more gentle way of breaking down opponents is a strange one from van Gaal but you can’t say Fellaini isn’t effective with a number of crucial goals this season.
However, whether he can do it from the start of the match, rather than impacting from the bench is the question.
ST: Wayne Rooney
Given the reported injuries to Robin van Persie and James Wilson, recalling Rooney in attack seems one of the only options available to van Gaal despite his reluctance to do so.
ST: Radamel Falcao
Wasn’t given game time against Swansea but like Rooney, will likely be brought back into the fold, though for the Colombian will be through necessity rather than merit.
However, given his anonymous displays for the majority of the season you wouldn’t be surprised to see van Gaal hit another nail in the coffin of Falcao’s Old Trafford career by calling up some unknown youngster.