Man Utd v West Brom preview

Champions seek five in a row; special day for Mowbray

Last updated: 17th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Man Utd v West Brom preview

Mowbray: Special day

Skysports.com prediction: Man Utd 2 West Brom 0

Sky Bet odds: Man Utd 2/9 Draw 9/2 West Brom 14/1

One to Watch: Wayne Rooney

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West Brom manager Tony Mowbray will be hoping for the perfect anniversary present at champions Manchester United.

Saturday's trip to Old Trafford marks the second anniversary of Mowbray taking charge of West Brom and he has performed an excellent job in the role.

He has led the club back into the Premier League and has also overseen an encouraging start to the season after picking up 10 points from seven games.

The Baggies have already run Arsenal close away from home this term and will be looking to halt a United side which is starting to hit top form.

United made what is becoming a traditionally slow start to the campaign, but are on a four-match winning run in all competitions and also boast the same number of points - 11 - at the same stage last season.

Midfield blow

Sir Alex Ferguson had been expecting an injury boost, with Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves both aiming to be available after recent absences.

Carrick has missed the last six games with a broken bone in his foot suffered in the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool, while Hargreaves has made only three appearances this season due to his ongoing knee problems.

However, the duo did not train on Friday morning and will miss Saturday's game along with Tuesday's UEFA Champions League tie with Celtic.

Ryan Giggs will start against the Baggies as Ferguson picks his team with Celtic on his mind, so Anderson could start on the bench as the Brazilian does not return until Friday afternoon.

Paul Scholes is out with a knee injury, while Ferguson will wait to assess his international contingent before finalising his team.

Carlos Tevez, who has denied complaining about his current role, will be pressing for a starting spot, but the recent form of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov could keep the Argentine on the bench.

Brunt back

West Brom have won three of their last four matches, and have not conceded an away goal in the Premier League since Samir Nasri's fourth-minute effort on the opening day of the season.

Mowbray has received mixed news on the injury front, with Chris Brunt available for selection, but Felipe Teixeira's comeback remains on hold.

Brunt has missed the Baggies' last two games with a hamstring injury, and also sat out Northern Ireland's two World Cup qualifiers, but he is in contention.

Teixeira, however, will not be involved as the midfielder picked up a minor calf problem in training ahead of a planned reserve outing following six months out with knee damage.

Kim Do-heon and Neil Clement are out with knee injuries, while Abdoulaye Meite is trying to shake off a calf problem that has kept the defender out for six weeks.

Possible starting line-ups

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, O'Shea, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov.

West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Barnett, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Koren, Valero, Greening, Brunt, Bednar.