Wayne Rooney is expected to return for Manchester United against Fulham at Old Trafford this evening after recovering from an ankle injury that has ruled him out of the Barclays Premier League champions’ past three matches, including the surprise 1-0 defeat by Bolton Wanderers.

Louis Saha, who has looked out of sorts of late, should make way when Rooney is again asked to partner Carlos Tévez up front as Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, hopes to prove that the loss to Bolton was nothing more than a blip.

“Wayne won’t need any encouragement to play, that is for sure,” Ferguson said. “He has not even been out for a month so I wouldn’t imagine it will take him a long time to get his rhythm. You do miss these players. You cope but you still miss them.” United are wrestling with a number of injuries, although they seem incidental next to those that Lawrie Sanchez, the Fulham manager, is having to contend with. He is without eight players.

United are unbeaten at home in the Barclays Premier League this season and have not lost back-to-back league games in 95 fixtures since April 2005.

Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar – W Brown, R Ferdinand, N Vidic, P Evra – C Ronaldo, O Hargreaves, M Carrick, R Giggs – C Tévez, W Rooney.

Fulham (possible; 4-4-2): A Niemi – C Baird, D Stefanovic, A Hughes, P Konchesky – S Davies, S Davis, D Murphy, H Bouazza – D Kamara, C Dempsey. Referee: R Styles.