Man United v Bolton preview

Berbatov: In contention to start

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: United 2 Bolton 0

SKY BET odds: United 11/4, Draw 9/2, Bolton 12/1

One to Watch: Ronaldo

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• Bolton Wanderers
• Manchester United

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Should Bolton come away from Old Trafford on Saturday with a three-point haul then Manchester United could end the day second from bottom in the Premier League table.

Sir Alex Ferguson's domestic and European champions have started this season not unlike they did last term; a series of off-key and lethargic displays having seen them drop points at home to Newcastle and lose away at Liverpool, while in the UEFA Champions League they were out-of-sorts in drawing with Villarreal.

The United faithful will hardly be panicked though as United rarely ease out of first gear until October but nonetheless, nothing but victory will be expected from the visit of Gary Megson's struggling Trotters.

A midweek Carling Cup defeat of Middlesbrough saw Nemanja Vidic return from suspension and the Serbian will retain his place alongside Rio Ferdinand, as the unfortunate Jonny Evans misses out despite shining in his absence against Villarreal and Chelsea.

Gary Neville could get the nod ahead of Wes Brown at right-back as he bids for match fitness, while Cristiano Ronaldo - who scored his first goal of the season on Tuesday - will likely make his first league start of the campaign.

Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves will fight it out for a central midfield berth, but it is up front that Ferguson has the biggest conundrum.

Striker conundrum

New boy Dimitar Berbatov is desperate for playing time as he looks to acclimatise to his new surrounds and is likely to start, meaning either Carlos Tevez or Wayne Rooney could be disappointed.

Tevez missed out at Chelsea but Ferguson has the option of employing a three-pronged attack or have Rooney patrol the left flank.

Edwin van der Sar, who came off injured against Chelsea, has been passed fit and will start, but deputy Tomasz Kuszczak is nursing a thigh strain and is sidelined.

Bolton travel to their North West neighbours on the back of a home defeat to Arsenal but buoyed by the possible return of a trio of key players.

Summer signing Johan Elmander and Matt Taylor could figure following injury, while influential central defender Gary Cahill is back from a three-match suspension.

Bolton boost

Elmander commanded a £10million fee in the close-season but injured his hamstring in only his second start for the club but is now fit, with Taylor's broken toe having also now healed.

Cahill may be short of match practice following his enforced absence but Megson has already stated his intent to pitch the player into action at Old Trafford.

Riga Mustapha came off the substitutes' bench and impressed against Arsenal but whether he has done enough to earn a start remains a topic of conjecture.

Possible line-ups

United: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Samuel, Cahill, O'Brien, Steinsson, Taylor, Muamba, Nolan, Davies, Elmander