Rooney set to hand Ferguson a boost

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is on a mission to deliver the ultimate payback to Sunderland and their supporters this weekend.

The England international is set to hand boss Sir Alex Ferguson a major boost by declaring himself available for the game, despite suffering from a virus at the beginning of the week.

Rooney was pencilled in to train on Thursday and United will then sit down and discuss their options for the Black Cats.

Martin O'Neill's side are in a better frame of mind following their morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Reading on Tuesday night, and are expected to remain unchanged for a match they can be backed at 33/1 to win 1-0.

United, however, have an extra motivation for putting Sunderland to the sword, after the incredible finish to the final day of last season.

Mackem supporters mercilessly taunted the Red Devils as they trudged off the pitch at the Stadium of Light, having learned that rivals Manchester City had stolen the title from them with practically the final kick of the campaign.

Manchester United are 8/15 to win the 2012-13 Premier League title and can be backed at 11/2 to win 2-0 against Sunderland, with Rooney 7/2 to open the scoring.

Sunderland fans even indulged in performing City's infamous 'Poznan' celebration, which prompted Rooney to tweet shortly afterwards that they would not forget their antics.

Jonny Evans is ruled-out for United with a hamstring injury but Nemanja Vidic is on standby to make his first appearance since August.

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