Rooney and Rio set to return

Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are set to return from groin strains in time to feature in Manchester United’s must-win Premier League clash with Sunderland.

Rooney sat out last weekend’s victory over Tottenham, while Ferdinand has missed two matches since he suffered his injury at Blackburn.

Alex Ferguson has never lost to a team managed by United old boy Steve Bruce, although Sunderland have lost just twice at home in the league this season.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, O’Shea, Rafael, De Laet, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Gibson, Obertan, Valencia, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney, Macheda, Diouf.