Football: Weekend guide to the Premiership: Manchester Utd v Middlebrou gh

Last season: No fixture

DWIGHT YORKE looks certain to miss the visit of Middlesbrough to Old Trafford after aggravating a groin strain during Wednesday's draw with Chelsea. United's leading scorer - the Trinidadian has scored seven goals in the Premiership and 12 overall - sat out last Saturday's game at Tottenham, made the starting line-up in midweek only for the problem to flare up again. He will have intensive treatment up to kick-off but Alex Ferguson is not ready to risk him with the busy Christmas programme coming up.

The United manager has a striking dilemma up front, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also having treatment on an ankle injury after being left out of the squad on Wednesday. Ferguson could be forced into using last season's strike force of Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole.

Middlesbrough, for whom Gary Pallister makes what is likely to be an emotional return to Old Trafford, are waiting for fitness tests on Gianluca Festa, Curtis Fleming, Phil Stamp, Mark Summerbell and Brian Deane.

MANCHESTER UNITED (from): Schmeichel, Brown, Stam, G Neville, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Cole, Solskjaer, Sheringham, Blomqvist, Butt, Johnsen, P Neville, Greening, Van der Gouw.

MIDDLESBROUGH (from): Schwarzer, Roberts, Fleming, Gordon, Stockdale, Pallister, Cooper, Vickers, Festa, Mustoe, Townsend, Summerbell, Rickard, Deane, Beck, Blackmore, Kinder, Harrison.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: N Barry.