Many could argue that the Red Devils have fallen behind the invincible Arsenal and big spending Chelsea in their bid for domestic honours, but needless to say that Sir Alex Ferguson will bring a strong team for the short trip to Bolton this Saturday.
Last season United were one of few teams to do the double against the Wanderers, winning convincingly on the opening day of season 2003-2004 with a 4-0 mauling at Old Trafford and then taking the points at the Reebok earlier on this year in a 2-1 success but they haven't always had it their own way in this fixture with Bolton winning twice in successive seasons against their near neighbours, the last occasion of which came exactly two years ago to tommorows date when a 77th minute goal from Kevin Nolan gave the Trotters a 1-0 win in Manchester.
It is nearly 26 years since Bolton have defeated United on home turf. Back in December 1978 a Frank Worthington double and another from ex-Reds forward Alan Gowling gave Bolton a 3-0 victory at frost bitten Burnden Park but since then the nearest Bolton have come to victory at home against their neighbours is a 1-1 draw in February last year when a last gasp Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goal saved the Reds from defeat with Bruno N'Gotty having previously given the Wanderers the lead.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is able to call upon the on-loan Liverpool forward El-Hadji Diouf for the first time. The Senegal international has missed the last couple of games due to ineligablility but is now set to face the Reds in some capacity.
Fellow new boys Blessing Kaku and Andy Oakes are pushing for places on the substitutes bench although it is expected that Allardyce will not make too many changes to the side which won against Liverpool two weeks ago. The only enforced change is expected to see either Julio Cesar or Anthony Barness in for Jamaican Ricardo Gardner who faces a gruelling travel schedule having represented his country in midweek in El-Salvador. In form striker Henrik Pedersen is declared fit despite picking up a slight knock whilst on duty with Denmark.
Florent Laville returned from injury for Bolton this week playing in the first half of the reserves draw with West Brom however the United game is expected to come too soon for the former Lyon captain.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has serious defensive problems ahead of the trip to Lancashire, with John O'Shea and Gary Neville having picked up injuries while on international duty in midweek so that will almost certainly mean a debut for Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and another chance for youngster Jonathan Spector.
England defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown are missing for the long term whilst new signing Wayne Rooney has still not fully recovered from the broken foot he suffered whilst playing for his country in the European Championships.
Ferguson's long list of injury concerns do not stop there, he may have to be without Louis Saha and Ruud Van Nistelrooy for the game meaning that the ex-Leeds United striker Alan Smith will once again lead the Reds attack on his own.
Both sides are sure to be fired up for the occasion which is will to be played in a typical electrifying derby atmosphere created between the two sets of supporters. Bolton have started slightly better than the Reds in the opening weeks of the campaign and will be keen for that to continue against their rivals this weekend.
LAST SEASON
07/01/2004 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (PREMIERSHIP)
16/08/2003 MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BOLTON WANDERERS 0 (PREMIERSHIP)
PLAYED FOR BOTH
John Ball
Peter Barnes
Peter Beardsley
Wyn Davies
Tony Dunne
Alan Gowling
Brian Kidd
Harry McShane
Willie Morgan
John O'Kane
Bill Wrigglesworth