Premier League preview: QPR v Manchester United

Manchester United will travel to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, aiming to maintain pre-Christmas pressure on league leaders Manchester City.

Following their shock Champions League exit at the hands of FC Basel, United responded with a 4-1 dismantling of Wolverhampton at Old Trafford, which cut Manchester City’s lead at the top to just two points following their loss to Chelsea.

United have won their last two league games and have lost only once this season in a 6-1 drubbing by rivals City.

With Nani and Wayne Rooney both back on scoring form after bagging a brace each against Wolves – their first goals since September – United will not lack attacking prowess despite missing Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen through injury.

Danny Welbeck is expected to keep his place upfront alongside Rooney.

Michael Carrick will continue to fill in for Darren Fletcher, who is out with a stomach virus while Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling will continue to deputise for Nemanja Vidic, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

QPR have won only once all season – a 1-0 victory over Chelsea – and have already conceded 26 goals this season, almost double that of United’s defence.

With Anton Ferdinand hobbling off against Liverpool over the weekend, manager Neil Warnock will be hoping that Ferdinand can recover in time for the game.

“Anton has a hamstring strain but fortunately it is not as bad as we first thought. He will be having intense treatment throughout this week and is touch and go for Sunday’s game,” Warnock told the club’s website.

Striker Heidar Helguson, however, is expected to be fit against United after resuming training. The Icelandic striker was on a hot streak scoring six goals in nine games before a groin injury kept him out of the side.

Striker DJ Campbell returned to action against Liverpool last week after recovering from a fractured metatarsal and was lively upfront. Campbell might feature again and with Helguson possibly back in the line-up as well, Campbell is upbeat about their chances against United.

“Our aspirations are high with Tony Fernandes coming in and spending the money he’s spent. It’s only right the fans are thinking positively,” Campbell said.

“They have been superb all season and once again they were great at the weekend.”

“I don’t know about the starting line-up. I was a bit surprised to get 30 minutes at Liverpool if I’m honest.”

“I’ll just continue to train hard and try to get match fit. If the gaffer calls on me, then he calls on me. If he needs me, I am there for him.”