WEST HAM V MANCHESTER UNITED

Wayne Rooney should end a five-match absence when Manchester United travel for a tough-looking assignment against in-form West Ham at bogey ground Upton Park on Sunday.

The England striker has not played since limping out of the 1-0 win over Wigan at Old Trafford on January 14 with a hamstring injury but has made significant progress to put himself in the frame for the trip to east London.

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted last week he will not rush the 23-year-old back from his career-first hamstring complaint and clearly he will be short of match fitness.

United have scored 13 goals in all competitions in Rooney's absence but he will be a welcome out-patient from the Old Trafford treatment room.

Three points at a venue where United have lost twice in succession is by no means a formality for Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League leaders.

United last triumphed at the Boleyn in November 2005 when goals from Rooney and John O'Shea cancelled out an effort from Marlon Harewood after just two minutes.

Since then they have collected two domestic crowns on the spin and recently have put together a run of 12 Premier League games without conceding a goal to suggest they are in good shape to justify their short football odds and win a title hat-trick.

Patrice Evra is also expected to finally shake off an ankle injury suffered against Chelsea a month ago to mark his return after six games.

O'Shea has performed admirably in the France left-back's absence but Ferguson may gamble on Evra to give natural balance to an already watertight defence.

Ferguson has warned his players to expect a "kick in the teeth" if they start reading their own publicity and accepts the race to the winning post is far from over.

"We have a difficult game away against West Ham and there are a lot of difficult games in the run-in and teams will drop points," he said after the 1-0 win over Everton last weekend.

West Ham are unbeaten in six top-flight matches and could be the value football bet as they chase a fourth successive home league victory, but the return of Rooney, Evra and, possibly, Nani should secure United capital gains.