Louis van Gaal faces a selection dilemma as Manchester United aim to keep pace at the top of the Premier League with victory at Watford on Saturday lunchtime.
Captain Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia are all unavailable for United, who start the weekend fourth in the table, one point behind Leicester and two behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
Despite criticism of their playing style, United are unbeaten since losing to Arsenal on October 4 and have kept five successive clean sheets in all competitions.
With eight goals conceded in 12 matches they have the best defensive record in the Premier League, but Watford have also impressed at the back.
They have conceded the joint-lowest number of goals outside of the top five and are the best-placed of the three promoted teams.
Although they lost at Leicester last time out, they have yet to suffer back-to-back league defeats this season.
Team news
Watford's leading scorer Odion Ighalo faces a late fitness test after returning late from international duty with Nigeria while Sebastian Prodl (calf), Tommie Hoban (groin and hip injuries), Joel Ekstrand (knee) and Rene Gilmartin (knee) are unavailable.
Beyond those, Quique Sanchez Flores has a fully-fit squad from which to choose, although problems could yet surface for Allan Nyom, should he be punished by the Cameroon Football Association for missing their recent World Cup qualifiers.
Manchester United will be forced into changes with Rooney (ill), Martial (foot), Carrick (ankle), Fellaini and Valencia all unavailable.
James Wilson could lead the line but Van Gaal has said he will not play the full 90 minutes due to a lack of "match rhythm".
Opta stats
Man Utd have won the last nine matches in all competitions against Watford, with the Hornets' last win coming back in September 1986 (1-0 at home in the league).
The Hornets have suffered just two defeats in their last nine league games at Vicarage Road, winning four and drawing three.
The Red Devils have lost just one of their last eight league games (W5 D2).
United have the best chance conversion rate of any team in the league this season (20%).
Merson's prediction
I think this is a tough game for Man Utd. Every game after an international break is tough for teams like them, as virtually every player is an international.
Watford are very hard to beat and play a certain way at home, which you could see when they beat West Ham. I just don't think Man Utd are free-flowing, and Watford could frustrate them, so I'm going to go 1-1.
Man Utd have the best defensive record in the top seven but have scored the least. They play that way, where they make sure they don't get beat first and foremost, and then go on from there.
It's easy to set up defensively, but it's harder to get that balance of setting up defensively and scoring goals freely. That's what everybody chases.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Manchester United are 10/11 shots with Sky Bet to secure three points with victory over Watford (16/5), with the draw a 12/5 shot. The Hornets have won two of their last three Premier League matches and despite a shortage of goals at home can be backed at 5/1 to win by exactly one goal.
United have won one of their last six in all competitions but have a 100 per cent record in the Premier League era at Vicarage Road and are available at 4/1 to win with both teams scoring. Only Phil Thompson of the Soccer Saturday pundits is backing a United win. Check out the other tips from the Sky Bet pundits here.