FAC: Manchester United v Derby preview
Manchester United v Derby preview
Manchester United kick-off their FA Cup campaign with a third-round tie against Sky Bet Championship side Derby County on Friday night.
Given United have been knocked out of the EFL Cup and are 15 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race, Jose Mourinho will be keen targeting the FA to add some silverware.
However, Mourinho has won the competition just once - with Chelsea in 2007.
Derby boss Gary Rowett sees his side's trip to Manchester United as the ideal yardstick for their Premier League aspirations.
"It's a great challenge for the players - one we are going to learn an awful lot from about the players and whether they can step up and take the responsibility in a game of that magnitude," Rowett told the club's official website.
"It's a great tool to see which of our players can handle it. We're aspiring to play against teams like Manchester United every week so if we go fearful and show we can't handle that type of game then that's a bit of a worry when it comes to what we are trying to achieve this season."
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero will start for Manchester United against Derby, while Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini are available for Friday's FA Cup third-round clash at Old Trafford.
Lukaku could feature six days after coming off on a stretcher against Southampton following a clash of heads, with midfielder Fellaini set to return having been out since November.
Michael Carrick is back training but will not be considered and Antonio Valencia is still at least a week away, so they will remain on the sidelines along with the suspended Ashley Young and injured Eric Bailly.
Former United forward Tom Lawrence (hip) and midfielder Joe Ledley (back) are injury concerns for Derby while Rowett is also monitoring the fitness of Bradley Johnson following his recent back problem
However, Mourinho has won the competition just once - with Chelsea in 2007.
Derby boss Gary Rowett sees his side's trip to Manchester United as the ideal yardstick for their Premier League aspirations.
"It's a great challenge for the players - one we are going to learn an awful lot from about the players and whether they can step up and take the responsibility in a game of that magnitude," Rowett told the club's official website.
"It's a great tool to see which of our players can handle it. We're aspiring to play against teams like Manchester United every week so if we go fearful and show we can't handle that type of game then that's a bit of a worry when it comes to what we are trying to achieve this season."
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero will start for Manchester United against Derby, while Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini are available for Friday's FA Cup third-round clash at Old Trafford.
Lukaku could feature six days after coming off on a stretcher against Southampton following a clash of heads, with midfielder Fellaini set to return having been out since November.
Michael Carrick is back training but will not be considered and Antonio Valencia is still at least a week away, so they will remain on the sidelines along with the suspended Ashley Young and injured Eric Bailly.
Former United forward Tom Lawrence (hip) and midfielder Joe Ledley (back) are injury concerns for Derby while Rowett is also monitoring the fitness of Bradley Johnson following his recent back problem