SUNDERLAND - MANCHESTER UNITED (OFFICIAL POST)

I am rooting for a 0-4

Steve Bruce was Sir Alex Ferguson's first Premier League-winning captain, but on Saturday the former pupil will be hoping to outwit the master and end his former club's pursuit of a record 19th league title.

United head to Sunderland knowing anything less than three points will surely call time on their pursuit of Chelsea, who are at Liverpool earlier in the day.

Ferguson will be demanding a better performance than his side managed in the reverse fixture, when the Black Cats came within seconds of victory at Old Trafford only to be denied by Anton Ferdinand's late own goal.

Only Chelsea and Aston Villa have come away from the Stadium of Light with maximum points this season, and in the in-form Darren Bent, Sunderland boast a striker with his eye on the Premier League golden boot and out to prove his World Cup credentials.

But United's record on Wearside is strong - their last defeat came in the League Cup nearly 10 years ago, while they have won 12 and lost just one of their 17 Premier League meetings.

Manchester United welcomed back forward Wayne Rooney and defender Rio Ferdinand to training on Friday with both hopeful of returning to the starting XI.

Gary Neville, who has signed a new one-year contract at Old Trafford, is touch and go with a calf problem.

Sunderland are without the suspended Alan Hutton, meaning Phil Bardsley could start against his old club.

Lee Cattermole and John Mensah are hoping to return from injury, but George McCartney and Andy Reid are out.

Sunderland
Suspended: Hutton (one match)
Doubtful: Cattermole (calf), Mensah (knee)
Injured: McCartney & Reid (both hamstring)

Man Utd
Doubtful: Ferdinand & Rooney (both groin), Neville (calf)
Injured: Anderson (knee), Owen (hamstring)