Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal will be without eight first-team players for Saturdays trip to Sunderland. Mondays 7-0 U21s victory over Norwich added to Van Gaals injury woes, with Phil Jones, Adnan Januzaj and Guillermo Varela all picking up knocks.But United will be looking to build on their recent improvement when they travel to Wearside, despite conceding a late equaliser against Chelsea last Sunday. Louis van Gaal has accused the media of inventing stories ahead of Manchester Uniteds Premier league game at Sunderland on Saturday Van Gaals side are six points behind bitter rivals Manchester City in their pursuit of a top-four finish, but have a chance to close that gap, if only temporarily, in the early kick-off at the Stadium of Light.A spirited fightback at Liverpool last time out has given Sam Allardyce cause for optimism, but just one win in four means the Black Cats remain 19th, four points from safety.Team news Sam Allardyce says Louis van Gaal must find out if Manchester United are planning to replace him Long-term United absentees Luke Shaw (leg), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (foot), Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee) and Ashley Young (groin) remain sidelined.Striker Will Keane has been rewarded for his five-goal haul against the Canaries with a place in the match-day squad.Sunderland defender Younes Kaboul and striker Duncan Watmore are both out with ankle ligament injuries. Jeremain Lens is a doubt with a suspected hernia problem. Sky Sports News HQ reporter James Cooper explains what Manchester Uniteds latest finance records mean Billy Jones is struggling to shake off a hip injury and the game is likely to come too soon for midfielder Sebastian Larsson following his return to training following a long-term knee problem. Fabio Borini is available after missing the trip to Liverpool because of a virus.Opta statsSunderland have failed to score in eight of the last 12 Premier League matches against Manchester United and only once in each of the other four encounters.United have won 21 and lost just two of their 29 Premier League games against Sunderland.The Black Cats have never beaten Manchester United in the league at the Stadium of Light (D4 L9). Jermain Defoe applauds fans after Liverpool draw Wayne Rooney has been involved in as many Premier League goals in six games in 2016 (five goals, three assists), as he had in 33 games in 2015 (six goals, two assists).Sunderland are on the longest current run without a clean sheet in the Premier League (11 games) while United have collected just six points from their last six Premier League away games (W1 D3 L2).Only Sergio Aguero (7) has scored more Premier League goals in 2016 so far than Jermain Defoe (6) and Wayne Rooney (5).Marouane Fellaini could make his 200th Premier League appearance in this match and would be only the second Belgian to reach this landmark in the competition after Vincent Kompany. Jamie Redknapp looks ahead to Chelseas Saturday Night Football clash with Newcastle before previewing the 3pm kick-offs. Mersons predictionManchester United have turned the corner, Ive been impressed. They looked really good at Chelsea and thoroughly deserved a draw at least. Sunderland, meanwhile, will have felt they did well against Man City, despite losing, and then they got a lucky draw at Liverpool if Im being honest. We will have to see whether the speculation surrounding Van Gaals future affects United but they seem to have turned the corner and I expect them to win at the Stadium of Light.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)BettingSunderland (4/1) are the biggest price of all home sides in Premier League action this weekend ahead of the visit of Manchester United (3/4) with the draw available at 5/2. The Black Cats remain odds-on shots with Sky Bet to be relegated with United 7/4 shots for a top four finish. United won this fixture 3-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season and are available at 7/4 to win to nil, while Sunderland are evens to win or draw in the Double Chance market. Jermain Defoe and Anthony Martial both to score is available at 17/2.Check out tips from our Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier here. Cheap Ultra Boost Shoes ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Cheap Ultra Boost For Sale . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. http://www.wholesaleultraboostaustralia.com/ . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Adidas Ultra Boost Australia . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Adidas Ultra Boost Australia Womens . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. To help you set your lineups and avoid starting a player who doesnt take the field, we will post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their Sunday inactive lists before kickoff. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.?Refresh often for the latest information.Ruled out before SundayTE Julius Thomas (back); CB Marcus Williams (ankle); RB Mike Gillislee (hamstring); LB?Luke Kuechly?(concussion); C Ryan Kalil (shoulder); WR Robert Woods (knee); QB Cody Kessler (concussion); RB Alfred Blue (calf); DE Michael Bennett (knee); LB Dee Ford (hamstring); WR Jeremy Maclin (groin); DB Brandon Flowers (concussion); LB Leonard Floyd (concussion); DB Earl Thomas (hamstring)Early games, 1 p.m. ET (eight scheduled)QB Jay Cutler (shoulder, doubtful) -- inactive RB T.J. Yeldon (ankle, questionable) -- active RB LeSean McCoy (thumb, questionable) -- active WR Sammy Watkins (foot, questionable) -- active WR Percy Harvin (illness, questionable) -- inactive DB Jimmy Smith (back, doubtful) -- inactive CB Desmond Trufant (shoulder/pectoral, questionable) -- inactive WR Michael Floyd (hamstring, questionable) -- active DB Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder, questionable) -- active DE Jason Pierre-Paul (knee, questionable) -- active RB Mark Ingram (concussion, questionable) -- active RB Todd Gurley (illness, questionable) -- active WR Kenny Stills (calf, questionable) -- active WR Travis Benjamin (knee, questionable) -- active DB Jimmie Ward (concussion, questionable) -- active WR Torrey Smith (shoulder, questionable) -- activeLate games, 4:05 and 4:25 p.m. ET (three scheduled)TE Rob Gronkowski (chest, questionable) -- active TE Martellus Bennett (ankle, questionable) -- active WR Julian Edelman (foot, questionable) -- active QB Tom Brady (knee, questionable) -- active C Justin Britt (ankle, questionable) -- active RB Jacquizz Rodgers (foot, questionable) -- inactive RB Latavius Murray (ankle, questionable) -- active WR Michael Crabtree (ankle, questionable) -- activeSunday night game, 8:30 ETDB Marcus Peters (hip, questionable) -- activeUpdates/analysis (most recent first)New York Jets (3:05 p.m.): C Nick Mangold, who had been listed as questionable, surprises nobody by appearing on the inactive list due to a bad ankle. This will be his fourth straight missed game.New England Patriots (2:58 p.m.): While the teams offense looking like its going to have all the usual suspects in the huddle today, CBs Justin Coleman and Cyrus Jones will both be inactive. That certainly leaves the secondary a tad shorthanded.Justin Britt (2:35 p.m.): The Seattle center is active today, but still may not start. Rookie Joey Hunt could be the guy called upon to snap the ball to Russell Wilson, which may somewhat slow down the Seahawks offense.Matt Barkley (12:06 p.m.): For better or worse, Chicago fans, youll get to witness his first career NFL start today.dddddddddddd Jay Cutler, as expected, is not suiting up for the Bears this afternoon due to his shoulder injury.Mark Ingram (12:02 p.m.): A concussion suffered last Thursday was the reason for concern with Ingrams status for todays game. However, as he is active, there shouldnt be any reason to expect that he wont get his usual share of the Saints backfield carries.Greg Robinson (11:55 a.m.): The Rams have apparently benched the tackle, who is inactive today despite not being on the teams injury report headed into todays action. Rodger Saffold is expected to start in his place.T.J. Yeldon (11:50 a.m.): Despite earlier reports that seemed to indicate he would not be active, Yeldons name is indeed missing from the list of no-go players for the Jaguars. That said, this is far from a clean bill of health. Starting him in fantasy is still an act of abject optimism.San Francisco 49ers (11:45 a.m.): With no Mike Pouncey, Laremy Tunsil or Branden Albert in uniform today for Miami, the 49ers D/ST gets a boost for those fantasy owners looking to stream or ready to roll the dice on an unexpected top scorer from the position.Miami Dolphins (7:50 a.m.): According to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport, both Ndamukong Suh and Mario Williams will be able to play this week.?T.J. Yeldon (7:45 a.m.): ESPNs Adam Schefter notes that the Jaguars running back is unlikely to play on Sunday, but will test his ankle before the game before a final decision is made. If he cant go, the forgotten Denard Robinson may well serve as the primary backup to Chris Ivory.Tom Brady (7:35 a.m.): All signs point to the New England quarterback playing on Sunday, as well as a trio of his receiving options in Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett. As for Rob Gronkowski, despite some prior bleeding and bruising in his chest, he is also expected to suit up.Buffalo Bills (7:30 a.m.): WR Sammy Watkins is expected to be active on Sunday, but due to his long layoff, he may not play a full workload. The Bills are likely to be quite shorthanded at receiver, with Robert Woods already having been ruled out and Percy Harvin once again suffering from migraines.?Desmond Trufant (7:25 a.m.): ESPNs Adam Schefter reports that the cornerback has a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to undergo season-ending surgery. The Falcons had been hoping that Trufant was going to be able to play in Week 12 -- hence his questionable tag -- but this latest news has us expecting to see his name on the inactives list when it comes out later today.?Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games, 2:30 p.m. ET for the late games and 7 p.m. ET for the Sunday night game. ' ' '