United Target Return To Top Spot

Manchester United return to action on Saturday at Watford, knowing that victory in the weekend's first Barclays Premier League fixture would claim top spot in the table.

Sure, that pole position may only be temporary with third-placed Leicester City and second-placed Arsenal both in action at 15:00 GMT and leaders Manchester City playing at 17:30, but moving above those three teams could strike a psychological blow at the beginning of domestic football's longest uninterrupted run.

The Reds have good form on the back of international breaks this season, having secured a much-celebrated 3-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in September and a similarly impressive 3-0 victory at Everton in October. But will United fans be celebrating a successful trip to Vicarage Road this weekend?

One man with personal reasons for wanting a good result against Watford is Ashley Young, the winger who left the Hornets in 2006 to join Aston Villa - the club who eventually sold him to United.

“I’m really looking forward to going back,” the Reds' no.18 explained on Wednesday. “It’s the club where I started and learnt my trade and, hopefully, it’ll be a nice reception... a better one than I get at Aston Villa anyway! There will be quite a lot of my family going to the game, so it’ll be nice to go back.”

Young's versatility could again be an asset as Louis van Gaal clarifies the situation with injuries and tries to resolve a series of selection problems. Antonio Valencia is definitely unavailable after the Ecuador international underwent foot surgery, but Paddy McNair is edging closer to full fitness after training with Northern Ireland during the last fortnight.

Michael Carrick sustained an ankle problem while playing for England against Spain. It also remains to be seen whether Marouane Fellaini will be fit, given that he was not called up by Belgium due to the injury that kept him out of United's last game, the win over West Brom on 7 November.

Anthony Martial limped off during the midweek match between England and France, with French coach Didier Deschamps later saying: “He is in quite a bit of pain, I think it is a knock to the top of his foot.”