Manchester: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is in optimistic mood as he prepares to face an old friend in Middlesbrough handler Aitor Karanka, despite facing the prospect of being without his captain.
Wayne Rooney was absent with a minor thigh problem as Manchester United recorded a fourth successive Premier League victory by beating Sunderland 3-1 on Boxing Day, and Mourinho admitted immediately after that match a quick recall may be unwise. The England forward's value to his club has diminished , he has started just eight of United's 18 league matches under Mourinho, and has not scored in the English top division since the opening weekend.
United, though, can count on goals from elsewhere as they seek to defeat opponents led by Karanka, who was Mourinho's assistant at Real Madrid.
Swedish veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic, having endured a mini-drought in the autumn, has well and truly put that behind him. His neat finish against Sunderland brought his 11th goal in the last 10 matches, and took his total in all competitions to 50 for the calendar year.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, seemingly unwanted during the opening months of the season, has hit form too after scoring his third goal in three matches.
Karanka has thanked Mourinho for giving him the confidence to pursue a career in management as he prepares to go up against his mentor for the first time.
The Middlesbrough manager was assistant to the Portuguese at Real Madrid for three years from 2010, and has added to his growing reputation during a three-year reign on Teesside, guiding the club back into the Premier League in May after a seven-season absence.
"It never really crossed my mind to go into management after I finished playing," said Karanka.
"But after working with Jose for those three years, I realised that any fears you might have about taking the plunge aren't important.
"He has a great way about him, a manner with the players and I learned so much from him about how to make things work."
Boro go in search of a first league win at Old Trafford for almost 13 years.
