Premier League preview: Manchester United and Manchester City face off at the City of Manchester Stadium
An injury-ridden Manchester United squad will travel to face local rival Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday, 10 November.
With Roberto Mancini's team in fourth place and United three points ahead trailing leaders Chelsea by two points, the game will test the potency of the two sides' title bids.
Pressure is mounting on Mancini, who has spent £140million on players since his arrival in December 2009 without improving former manager Mark Hughes' points-per-game ratio.
The game will give City a chance to pull level on points with their rivals, while a victory for United will put added pressure on Chelsea.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team have won six games in 19 days ahead of Wednesday's clash, with the return of midfield toiler Darren Fletcher having proven key to the team's stability.
Balotelli suspended as Tevez returns for City
Mario Balotelli, who scored two goals before being sent off for City against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 6 Novmber, will play no part against United.
City's attacking duties will instead be shouldered by the returning Carlos Tevez, the team's captain, who has recovered from the thigh injury that kept him out against West Brom.
The Argentine is returning to the stadium he left in July 2009 after Ferguson proved unwilling to spend the money to keep him at United. Sine then, he has scored 30 goals in 45 league appearances for City.
Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, another feared opponent at Old Trafford, is doubtful with a calf injury.
With Wayne Rooney treating his ankle injury in the United States and wingers Nani and Ryan Giggs doubtful with groin and hamstring problems, Ferguson was short of attacking options even before a flu virus
struck the United training ground last week.
Flu virus troubling United
Reports hold that Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov and Paul Scholes are all battling flu symptoms to be fit for Wednesday's game.
United's injury situation means Ferguson will have to rely even more on the services of his younger players, who have stepped up in recent games. Striker Javier Hernandez is likely to start for United,
while wingers Gabriel Obertan and Tiago Bebe could feature.
Despite his potentially long list of absentees, Ferguson can draw confidence from the fact that he has taken three of the past four editions of the Manchester Derby held on City's home turf.
United have also won all four of the teams' most recent league encounters, with City's last victory having come in February 2008.
Prior to their win against West Brom, City lost two league games in a row, but Mancini's team have won five of their last seven matches.
The hosts will be eager not to let in an early goal, as they have yet to win a Premier League game in which they have conceded the first goal this season.
If United's younger players can prove their worth against opposition of City's calibre, United stand a clear chance in the highly awaited encounter. Collecting three points at the City of Manchester Stadium
would be an achievement worthy of champions.
Tags: