Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester, on September 27. Photo: CFP

 Manchester United are likely to welcome back captain Wayne Rooney from suspension for their visit to Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, hoping the striker can add to his record scoring tally in the derby.

Rooney, who missed three ­matches because of a red card in September and hopes to recover from a minor foot injury picked up in training, tops the all-time goal-scoring list for Manchester derbies having netted 11 in 22 games for United.

The return of the English striker will add a further spring to manager Louis van Gaal's step, after United snatched a 1-1 home draw with league leaders Chelsea last week thanks to Robin van Persie's stoppage-time goal.

"It's a massive boost for us to have him back," United defender Luke Shaw told British media this week. "It's something I think he's looking forward to. Wayne hates sitting on the sidelines watching."

The 20-time English champions, after a dreadful campaign last term under David Moyes, have endured a torrid time away from home so far this season and are six games without a win on the road in the league, their worst run for 18 years.

Van Gaal and some of his new-look team will be experiencing a ­Manchester derby for the first time but Shaw, a close-season signing from Southampton, is sure the recent arrivals ­understand the fierce rivalry.

"It's pretty obvious what this match means to the fans and the club," the 19-year-old said. "I don't think I need to be told about it and the others (new signings) will be aware too.

"It's a massive occasion for everyone involved in it. We need to come out firing on Sunday."

Better position



United's indifferent away form has been costly, with the team eighth in the table on 13 points, 10 adrift of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea at the summit.

City have suffered their own ­stuttering start to their title defense and a 2-1 defeat at in-form West Ham United last weekend left them third on 17 points.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini is not concerned by the champions' form and pointed out they are in a better position than they were this time last season.

He was also unmoved by Rooney's United return.

"I think Rooney is a very ­important player for Manchester United but I think that big teams never depend on one player," he said.

Following their draw at Old Trafford, Chelsea will be looking to steal a march on their Manchester rivals when they host their own local adversaries Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

In scintillating form since the start of the season, Mourinho's men have dropped only four points in their opening nine games, conceding late goals to draw at both City and United, and have a four-point lead at the top of the table.

They are likely to have Diego Costa available again after he missed the trip to Old Trafford due to a ­hamstring problem and the Spain striker will be looking to add to the nine league goals he has scored in seven appearances this season.

Villa drought



Queens Park Rangers climbed off the foot of the table with a 2-0 home win against beleaguered Aston Villa on Monday but with all of their seven points this season coming at Loftus Road, their hopes of a surprise result at Chelsea will be slim.

With the loss to Harry Redknapp's side, Villa extended their run of five straight league defeats without scoring a goal.

Paul Lambert will hope his side can score their first in over eight hours of soccer to reignite the early season form that saw them reach second in the league when they host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, who are enduring their own slump.

Second-placed Southampton look to continue to dumbfound their ­pre-season critics when they travel on Saturday to Hull City, who proved a stern test for Liverpool in a goal-less draw at Anfield last weekend.

Another team exceeding all ­expectations, fourth-placed West Ham, follow their victory at home to the champions with a very different test at mid-table Stoke City.

A late Mario Balotelli-inspired comeback helped Liverpool book their place in the League Cup ­quarterfinal with a 2-1 home win against Swansea City on Tuesday, and the Italian striker will target a first league goal for the Reds when they visit Newcastle United early on Saturday.

English winger Theo Walcott could make his first appearance for Arsenal after 10 months out with injury to heap more misery on bottom club Burnley, who visit the Emirates Stadium having garnered only four points this season.
Newspaper headline: Manchester showdown to ignite weekend Premier League heat