In the wake of Wayne Rooney's decision to stay at Man Utd, Stoke find themselves in the Red Devils' sights.
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In the wake of Wayne Rooney's decision to stay at Manchester United, Stoke find themselves in the Red Devils' sights.
It looked for all the world as if the Potters would face a United side this weekend downtrodden by the news that their talismanic frontman was looking to move on.
However, with Rooney having penned a new five-year deal, spirits within the Old Trafford camp have lifted and Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be in buoyant mood when they arrive at the Britannia Stadium.
The Potters, though, have ambitions of building on an impressive start to the season, which sees them sit ninth, and will not roll over without a fight.
Three wins in their last five Premier League fixtures have taken Tony Pulis' side into the top half, with a nervy opening to the campaign quickly forgotten.
They did, however, come unstuck away at Bolton last time out and will want to make amends back on home soil.
Stoke will also be keen to start firing in front of goal as they have found the target just nine times in eight games, the lowest return of those inside the top 10.
With the Rooney saga put to one side, United's biggest challenge now is to get their title bid back on track.
United have looked shaky at times this season and have already dropped more points from a winning position (six) than they did in the whole of the 2009/10 campaign.
Ferguson will also be hoping that his side can turn the corner on their travels, with four draws taken from as many away games this term.
They are the only remaining unbeaten side in the top flight, though, and are only five points adrift of league leaders Chelsea - a gap they will feel they can bridge over the coming weeks.
Team news
Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller will undergo a late fitness test to see if can play any part in Sunday's encounter.
Fuller has had problems with a recurring shoulder injury and was rushed to hospital during the 2-1 defeat at Bolton last weekend following an awkward fall.
Aside from long-term absentee Mamady Sidibe, Pulis has no other injury concerns, but may give a chance to goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after Thomas Sorensen made an error at the Reebok Stadium in the build-up to a goal.
He may be the man of the moment, but Rooney will play no part on Sunday as an ankle injury picked up in training on Tuesday is set to keep him sidelined for up to three weeks.
Veteran winger Ryan Giggs will be missing for the Red Devils, as he continues to nurse a hamstring complaint.
Ji-Sung Park sustained a slight knee injury in midweek, against Bursaspor in the UEFA Champions League, but is expected to shake that off in time to make the trip.
Owen Hargreaves in unlikely to be risked, despite edging closer to full fitness, while Antonio Valencia is a long-term absentee with a broken ankle.
Edwin van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand were rested in midweek, while Dimitar Berbatov was benched, but all three are likely to be drafted back into the starting XI on Sunday.
Possible starting XIs
Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Pennant, Delap, Diao, Etherington, Fuller, Jones.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Berbatov, Hernandez.
