Premiership Preview
If the Dutch marksman finds the net against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford, he will set a new best of scoring in eight successive appearances, but his opposite number Cole will be anxious to prove a point to his former employers.
At the bottom end of the table, there is a proverbial six-pointer at Pride Park as managerless Derby County entertain Ipswich Town.
Derby County v Ipswich Town
The Rams' caretaker boss Billy McEwan has a virtual full strength squad to choose from for this key battle, with only goalkeeper Mart Poom missing from the squad.
Derby have won three of their last five home matches in The Premiership, and this is one they must pick up three points from to keep tabs on their relegation rivals.
Ipswich can take another step towards safety with victory in the East Midlands, and they have won four of their last five in the league.
George Burley will be without the injured duo of Jim Magilton and Thomas Gaardsoe, but Marcus Stewart could make his first Premiership start in over two months with Alun Armstrong not 100 percent fit.
Leicester City v Newcastle United
This match marks the first of a four-game sequence that could play a key role in deciding Leicester's top flight fate as they encounter Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea after The Magpies.
The Foxes have not won in six league games, and have the weakest attack in The Premiership, with only five goals at Filbert Street. Muzzy Izzet's return from suspension will boost the cause, but Matt Elliott is still banned.
Newcastle are aiming to continue their title challenge, which many would have presumed unlikely at the start of the season.
Bobby Robson's spirited side have won three of their last four away in the league, but they will be missing Robert Lee through injury for this match.
Liverpool v Southampton
The hosts are granted a swift opportunity to exact revenge for their 2-0 defeat by Southampton as they seek to breathe fresh life into their championship charge.
Liverpool have won just once in eight games, but will welcome back Vladimir Smicer to the squad for this contest.
Southampton's chances of completing a rapid-fire double over The Reds have been hampered by injuries to strikers James Beattie and Brett Ormerod, and that could lead to a recall for Kevin Davies.
Matt Oakley, Rory Delap and Tahar El Khalej are also missing as The Saints chase a sixth win in nine league fixtures.
Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers
The Red Devils are striving to secure an eighth consecutive Premiership triumph, and history is stacked firmly on their side.
Rovers have not won at Old Trafford since October 1962, and in the last 12 meetings between the teams at various venues, United are unbeaten.
Nicky Butt faces a late fitness test for the champions as van Nistelrooy hopes for the opportunity to etch his name in the record books.
Cole returns to The Theatre of Dreams for the first time since his £7.5 million transfer to Ewood Park in December, and manager Graeme Souness is eager for the prolific striker to spark an upturn in Rovers' fortunes as they have lost six of their last eight in the league.
Middlesbrough v Bolton Wanderers
Steve McLaren's side set up an FA Cup showdown with their manager's old club in midweek, but their pressing concern is Premiership survival as they could be languishing in the drop zone come 5pm on Saturday evening.
McLaren can at least count on the recall of Ugo Ehiogu for this game, but Phil Stamp is out, along with Alen Boksic, which will be a major blow given Boro's goalscoring malaise as they have netted just four times in nine league matches.
Bolton have not won in their last nine Premiership tussles and their excellent start to the campaign could soon count for nothing as they become embroiled in a relegation battle.
Fredi Bobic is back in the squad for The Trotters, but Paul Warhurst and Dean Holdsworth are suspended, while Colin Hendry is injured. Djibril Diawara, Bruno N'Gotty and Mike Whitlow will all undergo late fitness tests.
Sunderland v Fulham
Black Cats boss Peter Reid has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as Sunderland have slipped out of the European picture and into mid-table obscurity.
Paul Thirlwell has joined Claudio Reyna and Emerson Thome on the injury list, but Niall Quinn is expected to start alongside Kevin Phillips in attack.
Fulham are now setting their own sights on a Uefa Cup berth after a run of just two defeats in 13 league games.
Striker Louis Saha is ruled out through injury along with former Sunderland midfielder Lee Clark, while Sylvain Legwinski faces a fitness test.
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
Spurs will have been buoyed by their midweek FA Cup success over Coventry City, and they will be keen to put their league campaign back on track after just one victory in five.
Captain Teddy Sheringham will aid the cause, as he returns after serving a three match suspension.
Everton will have to re-write the history books if they want to return to Merseyside with three points, as they have yet to win at White Hart Lane since the inception of The Premiership.
The 'bruise brothers' of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell will be in tandem, but Walter Smith is without Mark Pembridge, Abel Xavier, Tomasz Radzinski, Danny Cadamarteri, Thomas Gravesen, Steve Watson and Alessandro Pistone.
