Manchester United vs Fenerbahce. UEFA Europa League Group A.
Old TraffordAttendance73,063.
Thursday 20 October 2016 19:09, UK
Robin van Persie returns to Old Trafford on Thursday evening as Manchester United host Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
The Dutchman made 105 appearances for United between 2012 and 2015, scoring 58 times including the goal against Aston Villa that clinched the title in 2013.
"It will be a special occasion and a special game for me," Van Persie told MUTV. "I am now playing for Fenerbahce and I want to do well for my team but of course it will be special to play 'at home' in a great stadium with great fans against a great team."
The Turkish side top Group A after two matches with United in third place after they lost to Feyenoord in their Europa League opener before edging past Zorya Luhansk last time out.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin all look set to be available for Jose Mourinho.
Playmaker Mkhitaryan has missed seven games because of a thigh problem, while forward Martial and midfielder Schneiderlin were not involved in Monday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Liverpool due to knocks, but all three were part of United's training session on Wednesday morning.
Mourinho has refused to confirm whether or not captain Wayne Rooney will return to the first XI after four straight substitute appearances.
The plane carrying the Fenerbahce first-team squad to Manchester was forced to make an emergency landing in Hungary on Wednesday afternoon.
The aircraft was diverted to Budapest airport after a bird cracked the front windshield shortly after take-off, but all of the players are safe.
Both Manchester United and Fenerbahce hold two wins over each other in European competition, with the Turkish side winning 3-0 in the most recent contest in December 2004.
Rooney scored a hat-trick on his Manchester United debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League in September 2004. United ran out 6-2 winners on the night.
Manchester United have lost just twice in their previous seven home games against Turkish teams, though one of those was to Fenerbahce in 1996 (W4 D1).
Excluding qualifiers, the Red Devils last won consecutive European games in December 2013 under David Moyes.
Just six of United's 33 shots (including blocked ones) in the group stage so far have been on target.
Simon Kjaer scored the latest goal in the Europa League this season (95:05) in Fenerbahce's last away game in this competition
I think this will be an interesting game because the bland United we saw against Liverpool on Monday, which I did expect, now find themselves in what is a must-win game if they're fussed about the Europa League.
What Jose Mourinho got his team to do Monday was not my cup of tea, but they did it very well. The question is how he now turns his side into one that can dominate games and score goals.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has gone a bit quiet, Paul Pogba has just one goal since he arrived, so how are they going to play now? They've got to be a bit more expressive.
Is it feasible Pogba and Wayne Rooney can play in a similar areas? Could he play Marcus Rashford central? It will be interesting to see what Mourinho does.
I think he will make a couple of changes and I think he'll actually rest Ibrahimovic and give Rooney a game in the No.10 role.
Fenerbahce can be dangerous. I remember them coming to Arsenal a couple of years ago and should have won, and I think they'll have a good go at Manchester United in an open game.
Charlie predicts: 3-1 and Rooney to score first (35/1 with Sky Bet)
