Goals beckon for United pair

– Manchester United will face the worst defence in the Premier League today, which should have their strike-force of Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial (above) licking their lips in anticipation.

Sunderland have conceded 49 goals so far this season – the main reason why Sam Allardyce’s side find themselves in relegation trouble inside the bottom three.

Their record at the Stadium of Light is not as troubling, with only 13 goals conceded on home turf.

But the Black Cats are evidently vulnerable and Rooney and Martial will be looking to add to their goal tallies as United bid to keep their prospects of Champions League qualification alive.

They go into the weekend six points off the top four under Louis van Gaal, whose position remains under intense scrutiny following reports of an approach for Jose Mourinho to replace the Dutchman as manager at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who scored one of the goals in United’s comfortable 3- 0 home win over Sunderland in September, has netted seven times in his last eight games.

And while Martial has scored just once in seven games, he looks to be heading back to top form.

United have lost just one of their last nine games, but conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea last Sunday that saw them slip six points behind Manchester City, who are fourth.

They therefore have little margin for error if they are to close the gap and with the top four sides all playing each other this weekend, they must take advantage of dropped points elsewhere.

Fit-again defender Phil Jones could return after playing for United’s under-21s against Norwich City on Monday, when striker Will Keane, 23, scored five times to stake his claim for a place in the senior squad.

Sunderland go into the game having sacked England international Adam Johnson on Thursday after the winger pleaded guilty to child sex charges.

Sunderland have not beaten United at home in the league for almost 19 years and Allardyce says they will have to win more games in their final 13 matches than they have in their previous 25 to have any hope of staying up. – AFP

The amount of ability he’s got is huge. The potential is certainly there. Michael Carrick on Anthony Martial