MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 14:17:49| >> :60:1000:1000:

Team News: Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw return for Manchester United

Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw return to Manchester United's starting lineup for this afternoon's Premier League meeting with Stoke City.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has made two changes to his starting lineup for this afternoon's trip to face Stoke City.

Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw, both of whom came on as substitutes in the Red Devils' goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur last time out, start at the Britannia Stadium.

It means that Paddy McNair and Antonio Valencia miss out for United, who are looking to cut the 10-point gap on league leaders Chelsea this afternoon.

Mark Hughes has been forced into making the only change to his side, bringing Jonathan Walters back into the fold in place of instrumental forward Bojan who misses out through injury.

The Potters head into the first Premier League game of 2015 on the back of a good run of form having won their last two matches.

Stoke City starting XI: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, Walters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Arnautovic, Diouf, Crouch
Subs: Butland, Bardsley, Huth, Wilson, Adam, Assaidi, Shenton

Manchester United starting XI: De Gea, Young, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Shaw, Carrick, Mata, Rooney, van Persie, Falcao
Subs: Lindegaard, Blackett, Rafael, Fletcher, Herrera, Januzaj, Wilson

Follow Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

ID:196466: cacheID:196466:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3059:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal gives a thumbs up prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on October 26, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Stoke vs. Man United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!