Every cloud has a silver lining, or so they say, and Sunderland defender Younis Kaboul’s suspension following his red card at Bournemouth last Saturday at least means his disastrous central defensive partnership with Sebastian Coates cannot continue. In the three games in which they’ve played together this season – against Leicester, Norwich and Bournemouth – the Black Cats have conceded nine goals. The recovery of John O’Shea from illness offers a glimmer of hope for the Sunderland back line, but the fact remains that his side has conceded 10 first half goals in the Premier League this season and are currently bottom of the table, with two points from six games.

A nine-match winless streak, not to mention a midweek League Cup tie against Manchester City, is unlikely to inspire confidence in the Black Cats ahead of their trip to Old Trafford on Saturday. In fact, manager Dick Advocaat has questioned the match-fitness and commitment of his team in recent weeks, so it’s hard to see beyond anything other than a routine victory for the home team.

United’s 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday had manager Louis van Gaal singing the praises of £36 million striker Anthony Martial, who’s scored three times in his first three games, and talking about the Red Devils as title contenders. That might be a little premature, especially with the United defence looking all at sea at St. Mary’s in the absence of Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney without a goal, or even an assist, in the Premier League this season. Even so, van Gaal looks set to have the last laugh in the battle of the Dutchmen.

It’s difficult to find value in such an apparently one-sided contest, with Man Utd on offer at 1/5 in the Full-time Result market and just 4/7 in the Half-time/Full-time market. Former England striker Jermaine Defoe has scored five times for Sunderland this season, including a hat-trick against Exeter in the League Cup, so perhaps the shrewd play is to take the 15/8 on offer about Man Utd & Yes in the Result/Both Teams to Score market.