It may be all sweetness and light again between Wayne Rooney and the Old Trafford faithful, or at least the United striker hopes it is, but he still has to shift the significant rust from his improved frame before the reservations are dispelled. One penalty kick aside, Rooney was well below-par against Rangers in midweek and despite the chance to usurp Chelsea at the summit, Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to start the striker against Blackburn. "Playing is the name of the game for him now," he said. Darren Fletcher and possibly Paul Scholes may miss out through injury while five Rovers players require late fitness tests. Andy Hunter

Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £46 (0161 868 8000)

Last season Manchester Utd 2 Blackburn 0

Referee L Probert

This season's matches 10 Y27, R4, 3.10 cards per game

Odds Manchester Utd 2-7 Blackburn 12-1 Draw 5-1

Manchester UtdSubs from Kuszczak, Brown, Anderson, Giggs, Smalling, Hernández, Fábio, Rafael, J Evans, Obertan, Macheda

Doubtful Scholes (groin)

Injured Fletcher (ankle, 13 Dec), Hargreaves (hamstring, 13 Dec), Valencia (broken leg, Feb), Owen (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WDDWWW

Disciplinary record Y24 R0

Leading scorer Berbatov 6

BlackburnSubs from Bunn, Kalinic, Chimbonda, Benjani, Nzonzi, Emerton, Linganzi, Goulon, Hanley, Doran

Doubtful Benjani (hamstring), Emerton (hamstring), Givet (illness), Nzonzi (hamstring), Pedersen (hamstring)

Injured Grella (groin, 4 Dec), Andrews (groin, Jan), Olsson (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Ineligible MB Diouf (terms of loan)

Form guide WLWWLL

Disciplinary record Y24 R1

Leading scorer Pedersen 4

Match pointers• United have not failed to score at home since losing 1-0 to Aston Villa last September

• A defeat for Blackburn would be their 50th all-time loss to Manchester United

• Rio Ferdinand has played more minutes than any other outfield player (720) without committing a foul this season

• Morten Gamst Pedersen scored both Blackburn's goals in their only Premier League win at Old Trafford (in September 2005)

• Dimitar Berbatov scored six times in his first five league appearances of the season but has now failed to find the net in his last seven games