Louis van Gaal desperately needs the elixir of a victory. It could be scrappy, ugly and even achieved in the pedestrian style many Manchester United supporters have come to detest. To cast Norwich City in the role of easy victims is wrong. Still, if United cannot defeat a side who are third from bottom and have just 14 points then the Old Trafford crowd could turn spiteful come 5pm on Saturday. Jamie Jackson

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue Old Trafford

Last season n/a

Referee M Oliver

This season G10, Y39, R3, 4.2 cards per game

Odds H 1-2 A 15-2 D 62-17

Manchester United

Subs from Romero, Johnstone, Pereira, Borthwick-Jackson, Powell, McNair, Fellaini, Young, Herrera

Doubtful Herrera, Rooney, Smalling, Young (all match fitness)

Injured Darmian (hamstring, Jan), Valencia (ankle, Feb), Shaw (leg, May), Lingard (hamstring, unknown), Rojo (shoulder, unknown)

Suspended Schweinsteiger (second of three)

Form DWWDDL

Discipline Y25 R0

Leading scorer Mata 4

Norwich City

Subs from Kean, Ruddy, Whittaker, O’Neil, Mulumbu, Redmond, Mbokani, Odjidja-Ofoe, Grabban, Lafferty

Doubtful None

Injured Wisdom (hamstring, 26 Dec), Jarvis (knee, 28 Dec)

Suspended None

Form LWLDLD

Discipline Y26 R2

Leading scorer Redmond 4