Cardiff City v Manchester United [Premier League]

Cardiff striker Peter Odemwingie has recovered from a minor muscle injury, while Aron Gunnarsson is fit despite hobbling off for Iceland on Tuesday.

Andreas Cornelius, sidelined since August by an ankle injury, is also fit.

Manchester United are without Michael Carrick and Phil Jones because of respective Achilles and groin problems.

The Red Devils will assess strikers Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck, both of whom withdrew from international duty because of injuries.

Cardiff City against Manchester United isn't a fixture with a particularly rich history, illustrated by the fact this will be the first meeting of any kind between the clubs since March 1975, some 38 years ago.

Go back a bit further though and there's a date of significance for Manchester United fans, because it was 60 years ago that the legendary Duncan Edwards made his debut for the club in a match
against this weekend's opponents.

He was just 16 when supporters got their first glimpse of his ability in the first team, but it came on a day when Cardiff ran out 4-1 winners at Old Trafford.

Sir Matt Busby once said he felt Edwards was "the most complete footballer in Britain - possibly the world".

We'll never know how good he could have been of course. His life was tragically cut short at the age of 21, following injuries sustained in the Munich air crash.

United have seldom lacked for top-class players, and the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will be the star attractions as Cardiff host the Red Devils in the top flight for the first time in over 50 years.

Cardiff have already claimed a couple of worthy scalps at home this season, beating 2011-12 champions Manchester City plus Welsh rivals Swansea City.

David Moyes will know this has the potential to be a boisterous and awkward afternoon if Malky Mackay's team are given half a chance, but United have won the last three in the league and are unbeaten in nine in all competitions as they start to get into their familiar stride.


Head-to-head

The clubs have not met in a competitive fixture since March 1975, while the last top-flight encounter was in February 1962.
The Red Devils have won the last four meetings.
Cardiff's last win in this fixture was a 3-0 victory in a top-flight match at Ninian Park on 26 November 1960.


Cardiff are looking to record back-to-back home wins in the top flight for the first time since April 1962, when they defeated Birmingham and then West Ham.
Seven of their nine league goals this season have been scored after half-time.
The Bluebirds have conceded six goals from outside the penalty area this season, a league high coming into the latest round of matches.
Steven Caulker has blocked 19 shots this season in the Premier League - seven more than any other player (prior to this weekend).


The Red Devils are unbeaten in nine league and cup games (W6, D3). They have won their last three Premier League fixtures.
Prior to this weekend, Robin van Persie was the leading Premier League scorer in 2013 with 19 goals. The Dutchman has scored in each of his last four top-flight appearances.
Not only has van Persie scored more goals than any other player in the Premier League since the start of 2011-12 (63), he's also hit the woodwork the most often (19).