Vincent Kompany made his comeback from a groin injury in the midweek Champions League victory over Plzen and his return to the side has come at precisely the right time with central defensive colleague MartÃn Demichelis sidelined with a knee injury. City will be glad they don't have to play Javi Garcia at centre-half again considering how disastrously that one worked out, and will be pleased that they have virtually a full complement of defenders. Kompany and co. will however be put to the test against Rooney, who was the chief architect of their downfall in this corresponding fixture last season, netting a brace in the 3-2. And the England forward will be hoping his meansteak in front of goal continues following his heroics against Leverkusen in the Champions League, entering the record books as only the fourth player to score 200 times for United. That was a performance which suggests he could be a thorn in City's side again on Sunday. Seeing Rooney with a smile on his face and enjoying his football again was good news for United fans, and potentially bad news for their neighbours in Blue.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
