epufloor: Manchester United v Manchester City preview: Derby day in Monday Night Football

Wayne Rooney: Set to return for Manchester United following a groin injury

It is derby day in Manchester and United will be determined not to let City rain on their parade as they close in on reclaiming the Premier League title.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have a 15-point lead over their local rivals with just eight games of the season to go and Roberto Mancini has already conceded that City have no chance of mounting a late comeback that would put their efforts of last year in the shade.

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Man Utd v Man City
April 8, 2013 7:00pm

When the teams met at a slightly later stage of the campaign 12 months ago, there were just three points between them and a 1-0 victory for City proved decisive as they went on to become champions in the most dramatic fashion.

As well as that derby defeat and the final-day heartache that followed, United had also suffered the ignominy of being thrashed 6-1 by City at Old Trafford earlier in the season, but they have bounced back in the triumphant manner that Ferguson has made his trademark to stand on the verge of a 20th league crown.

The Red Devils have claimed a record-breaking 25 wins from their opening 30 games to carve out a commanding advantage over their nearest challengers, while City have not quite been able to match that consistency.

Mancini maintains that the margin of the lead flatters United and that City are not inferior, while a number of his players have gone a step further by stressing that the Blues remain the team to beat in the Premier League.

It has been suggested by Mancini that City would have defended their title had he been able to secure all his summer transfer targets, with Robin van Persie one of those he had hoped to recruit before the start of the season.

Ferguson says Van Persie never came close to moving to the Etihad Stadium and has paid tribute to the Dutchman for making such an important contribution in his first season at the club, although he has not scored in nine games.

Van Persie's drought has not stopped United from winning seven league matches in a row, while they have not lost a Premier League match since the 1-0 defeat at Norwich City in November.

They will be desperate to give their fans bragging rights on Monday and gain revenge for last season's humiliation at Old Trafford, but face a tough task against a City side looking to cement second place.

Mancini's men have a four-point lead over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and were in scintillating form last time out as they demolished Newcastle United 4-0.

Man Utd

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Wayne Rooney is set to return for Manchester United to provide Ferguson with another attacking option.

Rooney came back from international duty with a groin strain that has kept him out of games against Sunderland and Chelsea but, after returning to training on Thursday, should be involved.

Rafael (groin) is also fit, while Nemanja Vidic (back) and Jonny Evans (hamstring) are 50-50.

Man City

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Right-backs Micah Richards and Maicon (both knee) are the only Manchester City players definitely ruled out of the game.

The pair could return in the coming weeks while midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) could be close to making his comeback.

Playmakers David Silva and Samir Nasri are both fully fit after suffering minor knocks in last week's defeat of Newcastle and defender Matija Nastasic (foot) returns.

Opta stats

Manchester United (W25 D2) and Manchester City (W18 D2) are two of the three teams yet to lose in the Barclays Premier League this season when they have taken the lead (Arsenal are the other).
Manchester United have kept six clean sheets in a row in the Premier League, and have not conceded for 627 minutes in the competition. Only nine sides have gone longer without conceding a goal in the competition, with Manchester United's run of 1334 minutes in 2008-09 the longest.
Including the Community Shield match in 2011, the last five meetings between Manchester City and Manchester United (all comps) have seen 23 goals scored - an average of 4.6 a game.