Rooney and O'Shea back for United

Wayne Rooney returned from injury as Manchester United attempted to keep their fading Barclays Premier League title hopes alive at Sunderland.

Rooney was included after recovering from a groin injury and defender John O’Shea also returned to the staring line-up as Antonio Valencia and Rafael da Silva made way, while there was a seat on the bench too for Rio Ferdinand.

Sunderland boss and former United defender Steve Bruce made three changes to the side which won at Hull last weekend with Alan Hutton suspended and Matthew Kilgallon and Kenwyne Jones left out.

Phil Bardsley took over at right-back and there were starts too for fit-again skipper Lorik Cana and defender John Mensah.

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Turner, Mensah, Richardson, Henderson, Meyler, Cana, Malbranque, Campbell, Bent. Subs: Carson, Ferdinand, Zenden, Jones, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Cattermole.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Jonathan Evans, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Park, Carrick, Macheda.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)