FA Cup: Manchester United v Reading preview

Manchester United v Reading preview

Jaap Stam returns to Old Trafford as Reading travel to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday

Stam spent three seasons as a player at Manchester United from 1998 to 2001, during which he won the FA Cup, the Champions League and three Premier League titles.

He took charge of Reading at the start of this season and has led them to third place in the Sky Bet Championship.

"One of our strengths is the belief we have in ourselves and the possession football we play," Stam said. "We will have the same approach as we have for a league game - we're not going to do anything different in our preparation.

"And we believe in what we do and it's been working for us this season. It won't be easy against players of the quality they have. But we're going to give it a shot and we'll see at the end of the game how well it has gone."

Manchester United have won their last seven games in a row in all competitions and are unbeaten in 13 matches, their longest run since March 2013.

They lifted the FA Cup last season under Louis van Gaal after coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley.

Wayne Rooney will return to Manchester United's starting line-up after three games out with a thigh injury, needing one goal to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record of 249 at United.

Sergio Romero will start in goal instead of first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea, while Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay will not be considered while their futures remain unresolved.

Defender Eric Bailly is at the Africa Cup of Nations and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be rested, though Luke Shaw may feature and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be in the squad.

Reading will be without winger Callum Harriott after he suffered a hamstring injury in the abandoned game against Fulham last Friday.

Stephen Quinn and Anssi Jaakkola (both knee) are also out along with Deniss Rakels (ankle).