Juan Mata has replaced Wayne Rooney as Manchester United welcome former manager David Moyes's Sunderland side to Old Trafford this afternoon.

The United skipper misses out on the post-Christmas matchday squad altogether, having "felt something in training yesterday", as Mata comes in to join Jesse Lingard and top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the frontline.

Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick continue in midfield, while there is one change at the back as Daley Blind usurps Matteo Darmian, who drops to the bench.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is named among the substitutes after missing the last two games with an ankle injury, although there is no place in the squad for Eric Bailly, who is available after overcoming a knee problem.

For Moyes, there are two changes from the side that beat Watford 1-0 last time out to move within a point of safety.

Adnan Januzaj is ineligible to face his parent club, meaning a recall for Sebastian Larsson in the middle of the park alongside Fabio Borini, Jason Denayer and Dider Ndong, while Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe continue up front.

The other change sees Billy Jones return from a hip injury to start at right-back in place of Donald Love, who drops to the subs.

Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Herrera Pogba; Mata, Lingard, Ibrahimovic
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Rashford

Sunderland: Pickford; Jones, Djilobodji, Kone, Van Aanholt; Ndong, Denayer, Borini, Larsson; Anichebe, Defoe
Subs: Mannone, Love, Asoro, O'Shea, Khazri, Ebleton, Honeyman

Keep up with all of the action from Old Trafford this afternoon with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.