Manchester United show their drawing power

Seven years on from their last visit, Manchester United return to Dublin tonight and the decline in form of the former Premier League kingpins hasn’t diminished their support in Ireland.

United and Alex Ferguson were in their prime at the time of the 2010 game to mark the stadium reopening following its rebuild, going on to claim their fourth title in five years that season.

Only one more crown has been delivered since, Ferguson’s parting gift in 2013, but the 51,000-capacity Lansdowne Road will be a sea of red for the International Cup friendly against Serie A oufit Sampdoria (7.45pm).