Manchester United - West Bromwich Albion Preview: Owen Hargreaves could make bench as Wayne Rooney returns to the fold

Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to welcome back veteran duo Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to the fold after they shook off injuries. Wayne Rooney's declaration of match fitness should see him selected to start unless the fall out from the revelation extends to the team sheet.

News of knee pain for Park Ji-Sung on international duty could see the South Korean miss the cut. Owen Hargreaves long-awaited return could see a place granted on the substitute's bench. Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney.Roberto Di Matteo will have his fingers crossed that top scorer Peter Odemwingie can declare himself fit after he picked up a knee injury. Reserve striker Ishmael Miller faces a race against time to be on standby to deputise with a thigh strain.

Youngster Joe Mattock could also return to the first team fold after an extended spell on the treatment table with the same injury.

Slovakia international Marek Cech is unavailable with a damaged ankle.

Possible starting XI: Carson; Jara, Olsson, Pablo, Shorey; Brunt, Mulumbu, Scharner, Dorrans, Morrison; Odemwingie.

Home comforts

Manchester United are looking to get back on the Premier League pace after the disappointing 0-0 draw with Sunderland before the international break.

The stalemate at the Stadium of Light left the club in third place in the table, five points behind leaders Chelsea and one place behind bitter rivals Manchester City.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson comes into tomorrow's West Bromwich Albion clash with the media glare centred on his reportedly fractious relationship with Wayne Rooney. The intrigue from the out of form striker's contradictory statements about an ankle injury will only be defused by a flurry of goals.

In better news, injury plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves is believed to be on the cusp of his first appearance at the Theatre of Dreams in two years after being given the all clear by surgeon Dr Richard Steadman.

United's perfect home record will be expected to be extended against West Bromwich Albion. Another setback would see Chelsea disappear further into the horizon.

Buoyant Baggies

West Brom have shot to sixth place in the standings and are in no mood to be cowed into submission.

The 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers a fortnight ago has seen Roberto Di Matteo enjoy a stunning introduction to top flight management. Expected to be headed straight back to the Championship, the Baggies have lacked the praise they deserve after Blackpool's similarly impressive opening stole the headlines.

The spine of this challenge has come at the Hawthorns. Away from home, a haul of just three points hints at a difficult afternoon in the north west.

The memories of the 6-0 thrashing on the opening day may still be in the mind of the Italian's troops. Furthermore, the Baggies will be fighting against more than 30 years of history since they last took the spoils at Old Trafford. West Brom have made a mockery of the pre-season predictions of doom thus far. Another fine result would be the greatest upset of all.