Manchester United followed their 6-1 pasting at the hands of their city neighbours with five successive clean sheets, but the 2-2 draw with Benfica in midweek echoed former insecurities. United have regressed (or, depending on your point of view, progressed) into grind mode in the Premier League – a trio of 1-0s have seen them keep pace with the leaders but win few plaudits. Newcastle will fancy their chances of escaping Old Trafford with a point, despite the probable absence of their combative midfielder, Cheick Tioté. John Ashdown

Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Man Utd 3 Newcastle 0

Referee Mike Jones

This season's matches 9 Y44, R3, 5.22 cards per game

Odds Man Utd 2-5 Newcastle 10-1 Draw 4-1

Manchester United

Subs from Amos, Lindgaard, Evans, Park, Diouf, Berbatov, F da Silva, R da Silva, Welbeck, Valencia, Macheda, Gibson, Giggs

Doubtful Rooney (hip), Welbeck (thigh)

Injured Cleverley (ankle, 3 Dec), Smalling (foot, 3 Dec), Owen (thigh, 26 Dec), Anderson (knee, Feb), Bébé (knee, Feb)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWLDW

Disciplinary record Y16 R1

Leading scorer Rooney 9

Newcastle

Subs from Elliott, Harper, Santon, Perch, Gosling, Smith, Lovenkrands, Abeid, Tioté, Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi

Doubtful Tioté (knee)

Injured Best (toe, 3 Dec), Williamson (ankle, 3 Dec), Marveaux (groin, Mar)

Suspended None

Form guide LWWWDW

Disciplinary record Y21 R0

Leading scorer Ba 8

Match pointers

• Newcastle have not beaten United in any competition since September 2001 and have not won at Old Trafford since Februrary 1972

• United and Newcastle are both on a run of one defeat in 15 league matches and both suffered the only loss of that run against Manchester City

• Newcastle have conceded a total of 499 goals away from home in the Premier League

• Javier Hernández has been caught offside more times (21) than any other player

• Steven Taylor has made the most defensive blocks (19) in the division