Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not be able to call upon the services of Tom Cleverley, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. Fabio (hamstring), Darren Fletcher (illness), Michael Owen (thigh), Nemanja Vidic (knee) and Ashley Young (ankle) are all in the treatment room.
Rio Ferdinand is believed to have picked up a stomach bug ahead of this clash, which makes him a doubt, while the United boss will have to again make a big decision about who starts in goal. Anders Lindegaard has conceded five goals in his last two games after replacing David de Gea following the shock home defeat to Blackburn.
Owen Coyle has a few injured players to deal with, as Marcos Alonso (foot), Sean Davis (knee), Stuart Holden (knee), Chung-Yong Lee and Tyrone Mears (both broken leg) are all out of action.
Ricardo Gardner has been out since the game against Stoke City when he picked up a knee problem, but he is now thought to have gained enough fitness to be classified as a doubt instead of being crossed out in the list of those wounded in battle. Jussi Jaaskelainen (thigh) is also a doubt for the upcoming game at Old Trafford.
- That defeat was their second in succession, with the first being a 3-2 loss to Blackburn Rovers. The Red Devils have not lost three consecutive games since 2001.
- Sir Alex’s men have scored in 40 consecutive league games at Old Trafford.
- After Manchester City, United have managed to score the most goals in the Premier League so far.
- Bolton Wanderers have been able to beat United in only three of the last 25 league meetings between the two sides.
- The Trotters had lost eight in 10 matches prior to going on what is a comparatively good run of losing only one of their last five in all competitions.
- Coyle’s men are currently languishing in the relegation zone. But if all games had ended at half-time, they would have been sitting pretty in 14th place.
- Bolton have conceded a joint high (with Blackburn Rovers) of 43 goals in the top flight this season.