Manchester United vs Wolves - Match Preview

Perhaps today's most intriguing Premier League tie takes place at Old Trafford as Manchester United, just days after their embarrassing premature exit from the Champions League, take on Mick McCarthy's battling Wolves. It's hard to imagine a more depressing time for The Red Devils. Their close rivals Manchester City are five points ahead at the top of the Premier League and have already humiliated Fergie's side on his own ground. A home defeat against Wolves for the first time 31 years could prove horrific, even a draw would be disastrous today. It's time for United to stand-up and be counted today. Players like Wayne Rooney, who got himself some good news with his international ban being reduced on Thursday and he may now stop sulking on the pitch. After a blistering league start he hasn't scored since September. Ryan Giggs needs to recapture his form and 'keeper David De Gea needs to be a commanding presence and sort his backline out Nemanja Vidic now out for the rest of the season. United have only lost 7 our of their lost 65 games that Vidic has played and they are never the same side when they can't field him and Rio Ferdinand at the back. Wolves are a physical side and will prove a tough test for the club today. They surprised everyone when they beat United at the Molineux last season and with Steven Fletcher, on form with 10 goals in his last 15, they have a real threat for United's shaky defence today.

Team News

As we've said Vidic is now out for the season after picking up his injury mid-week. Phil Jones will likely move back into the center. Long term injuries to Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverley (ankle), Anderson (knee), Michael Owen (thigh) keep them sidelined. Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio are also out. Michael Carrick returns from suspension and Dimitar Berbatov may recover from his ankle injury. For Wolves, Karl Henry returns from his one-match ban after five yellows. Big money signing Roger Johnson should return to the central defence as Jody Craddock has picked up a hamstring injury.

Line-ups from;

United (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Evans, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra, Jones, Fryers, Cole, Fletcher, Carrick, Young, Valencia, Park, Gibson, Nani, Giggs, Macheda, Rooney, Welbeck, Berbatov, Diouf. Wolves (from): Hennessey, De Vries, Stearman, Zubar, Johnson, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Hammill, O'Hara, Hunt, Henry, Guedioura, Jarvis, Doyle, Doherty, Elokobi, Milijas, Edwards, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher, Doherty.