Manchester United vs Chelsea team news: Wayne Rooney starts with Louis van Gaal on the brink

A defeat for United is expected to spell the end of Van Gaal's reign at Old Trafford

A view from outside Old Trafford (GETTY IMAGES)

Wayne Rooney has been recalled to Manchester United's starting line-up for today's game against Chelsea having started on the bench for the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat to Stoke City.

Louis van Gaal, who is widely expected to be out of a job should United lose today, named his captain in a side also including Anthony Martial.

Bastian Schweinsteiger returns from suspension to play in midfield alongside Morgan Schneiderlin. Juan Mata and Ander Herrera complete the midfield.

It means Marouane Fellaini and Memphis Depay drop to the bench.

Meanwhile Matteo Darmian returns to the side having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Chelsea, without Diego Costa due to suspension, start with Eden Hazard in attack. The Belgian made his comeback from the bench on Saturday in the 2-2 draw with Watford.

Willian, Oscar and Pedro play behind him, with John Obi Mikel and Nemanja Matic providing the steel in Guus Hiddink's midfield.

TEAMS...

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Young, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Herrera, Martial, Rooney

Romero, Borthwick-Jackson, Jones, Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira, Memphis

CHELSEA: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Hazard.

Begovic, Baba Rahman, Djilobodji, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Kenedy