MAN UTD V CHELSEA PREVIEW

Andre Villas-Boas faces the sternest test of his Chelsea reign to date with a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday to face a rampant Manchester United.

United and Chelsea have been the dominant forces in English football over the past decade but have never been prepared to stand still and there is a freshness about both sides at the start of the new campaign.

While the Blues recruited a manager and several players over the summer, Sir Alex Ferguson has also begun to build another exciting team at Old Trafford with the injection of some new blood.

The foundations were already in place at United but Ferguson will have been overjoyed with the way in which the latest batch of youngsters has been integrated during the early part of the season.

The Red Devils have been in astonishing form in the Premier League so far, not only claiming maximum points from their opening four games but also scoring 18 goals in the process.

Wayne Rooney has grabbed eight of those, including back-to-back hat-tricks, and he will make history if he repeats the feat this weekend by becoming the first player to net a treble in three consecutive Premier League games.

Keeping Rooney in the side is one of the easier selection decisions facing Ferguson ahead of the visit of the Blues, who the manager admits will provide a tough challenge.

Ferguson changed his team in midweek for the UEFA Champions League clash with Benfica as he opted for a more experienced line-up away from home in Europe.

Having returned from Portugal with a creditable 1-1 draw, the United boss is now considering how many players to recall that were rested on Wednesday.

David de Gea is expected to come back in between the posts despite Anders Lindegaard's assured performance against Benfica, while Ryan Giggs could also start and Rio Ferdinand is likely to return.

Javier Hernandez, Ashley Young, Nani and Anderson are also in contention to come back in, although the likes of Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia will all be hoping to stay in the side.

Ferguson has reported no fresh injury concerns, leaving Nemanja Vidic (calf), Tom Cleverley (foot) and Rafael (shoulder) on the sidelines, whilst Danny Welbeck (hamstring) is not expected to be available until next week.

Chelsea news

Chelsea may not have received the same plaudits as United, or indeed Manchester City, during the first few weeks of the season but Villas-Boas has nevertheless made a quietly impressive start to life in English football.

A goalless draw at Stoke on the opening day has been followed by three straight wins in the Premier League, and the Blues can climb above United by winning at Old Trafford.

Chelsea also managed to kick off their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Group E, as Villas-Boas looks to deliver the European glory that has proved so elusive for previous managers at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas arrived in London with a reputation as perhaps the most promising young tactician in world football and, while there has been little to criticise so far, his tactics are sure to come under scrutiny on Sunday as he engages in a battle of wits with the master Ferguson.

The Portuguese has made it clear that he is not afraid to drop players whatever their status, leaving out Fernando Torres for the game against Sunderland last week before recalling him to face Leverkusen.

An internal investigation into comments made by Torres, when he allegedly branded his 'older' team-mates as 'very slow' has been declared officially closed but the Spanish striker may still be omitted in favour of Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Anelka.

Didier Drogba is facing a race against time to be fit for the game as he recovers from a sickening head injury that caused him concussion in the 3-1 victory over Norwich on 27th August.

David Luiz marked his first appearance of the season against Leverkusen with a goal and is likely to stay in the side alongside skipper John Terry, who was rested on Tuesday.

Branislav Ivanovic could therefore be the unlucky player to miss out, unless Villas-Boas decides to play the Serbian at right-back instead of Jose Bosingwa.

Ramires is also available again following a European suspension, but Michael Essien is a long-term absentee following knee surgery.

Possible starting XIs

Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Hernandez.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Mata, Lampard, Ramires, Meireles, Anelka, Sturridge.