Man Utd v Sunderland preview: Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly set to return for hosts

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly are set to return for Manchester United when Sunderland visit Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Armenian playmaker Mkhitaryan has missed the past two games with an ankle injury picked up in the win over Tottenham, while centre-back Bailly injured his knee in the victory at Crystal Palace.

United will be confident of continuing their impressive recent form with all three points against Sunderland, having lost just one of their last 24 home games against the Black Cats.

However, David Moyes will be targeting victory at his former club as Sunderland look to continue their climb away from the foot of the table.

Team news

United manager Jose Mourinho confirmed full-back Luke Shaw is his only absentee at the moment due to a groin strain.

Loanee Adnan Januzaj is unavailable for Sunderland against his parent club and will be joined on the sidelines by Jan Kirchhoff, who has undergone surgery for a knee cartilage injury which will keep him out for 12 weeks.

Defenders Billy Jones (hip), Javier Manquillo (hamstring) and midfielder Steven Pienaar (calf) have returned to training, but the game could come too soon for them.

Lee Cattermole (hip), Jack Rodwell (hamstring), Lynden Gooch (ankle), Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore (both knee) are still out.

Opta stats

Manchester United have lost just one of their last 24 top-flight home games against the Black Cats, in May 2014 (W16 D7).

Sunderland haven't beaten Manchester United in successive top-flight games since 1951 (three in a row).

Manchester United have won more Premier League games on Boxing Day than any other team (18).

Jermain Defoe has scored six times on Boxing Day in the Premier League, more than any current player in the division. The record scorer on Boxing Day in Premier League history is Robbie Fowler (nine).

This will be the third time in their last 10 Premier League Boxing Day matches that the Black Cats have faced Manchester United; losing both previous matches in 2007 (0-4) and 2010 (0-2).

Since the start of November, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored seven goals from just eight shots on target in the Premier League.

Ibrahimovic has scored 40 goals in the month of December within the 'big five' European Leagues since he joined Juventus in 2004/05; his best goal tally in a single month.

Manchester United are sixth in the Premier League table at Christmas - only the second time in the Premier League era that they are outside the top five on this date after 2013/14 (eighth).

Merson's predictions

Manchester United have well and truly turned the corner, they are absolutely flying. Sunderland had a big result against Leicester but followed that up with a hammering at Swansea. Swansea are not in the same class as United so I can only see one winner here.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Betting

Manchester United are Boxing Day's shortest-price Premier League favourites at 2/9, while their former manager David Moyes' Sunderland are right out at 12/1 to spring a surprise and take the three points. It's 5/1 to end all square. Zlatan Ibrahimovic heads the first goalscorer betting at 11/4, followed by Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney at 7/2, while it's no surprise to see Jermain Defoe rated the main threat from the visitors' ranks at 9/1 to score first and 11/4 to score anytime.

Manchester United v Sunderland features in the special Boxing Day Super 6, and you could land a £1m jackpot by entering for free right here