Considering that England's match in Poland had to be put back a day, Sir Alex Ferguson must regret the reduction in recovery time for Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Wayne Rooney, who all started in Warsaw. Still, the sympathy will lie far more with the visitors to Old Trafford, Stoke City. They last took a point there in December 1980, with a 2-2 draw after going 2-0 up in the first 21 minutes. Stoke have just one win in this campaign, against Swansea, but Tony Pulis's team went on to take a goalless draw at Anfield last time out. Kevin McCarra
Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 3pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Man Utd 2 Stoke 0
Referee Anthony Taylor
This season's matches 5 Y8, R1, 1.80 cards per game
Odds Man Utd 4-13 Stoke 10-1 Draw 4-1
Manchester United v Stoke City: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic Manchester United
Subs from Johnstone, Lindegaard, Buttner, Hernández, Cleverley, Welbeck, Nani, Anderson, Giggs, Powell, Macheda, Bébé, Fletcher, Kagawa, Henríquez
Doubtful Lindegaard (ankle)
Injured Smalling (metatarsal, 3 Nov), Jones (knee, Dec), Vidic (knee, Dec)
Suspended None
Form guide WLWWWW
Disciplinary record Y10 R0
Leading scorer Van Persie 5
Stoke
Subs from Sorensen, Jones, Upson, Edu, Jerome, Etherington, Wilkinson, Whelan, Shotton, Owen, Palacios, Ness, Delap
Doubtful Owen (groin), Whelan (hamstring)
Injured None
Suspended None
Form guide DWLDDD
Disciplinary record Y16 R1
Leading scorer Crouch 4
Match pointers
• United have not lost at home to Stoke in any competition since April 1976 when Alan Bloor got the only goal of the game for the visitors
• If selected, Peter Crouch will be making his 300th Premier League appearance and Robert Huth his 200th
• Robin van Persie has scored six goals in five league games against Stoke
• Stoke have won none of their last 13 away games in the top flight, scoring just six goals in the process
• United have scored more goals from corners (five) than any other side this season
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