Boxing Day (Monday) sees United bid to end a winless run that stretches back six games, to the 2-1 home victory over Everton on Bonfire Night. It's a 3pm kick-off at the Reebok Stadium and the 4,000 away tickets are sold out.
Our seemingly annual dose of post-Christmas misery once again sees us trekking over the M62 after a two season break, destination Horwich and looking for a first Boxing Day victory in a decade.
The Trotters themselves are enduring an awful season on home ground, taking just three points from a possible 24, thanks to a 5-0 victory against Stoke City.
Their other seven league games have ended in defeats, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Norwich City, Chelsea, the mackems, Everton and Villa all leaving with maximum points. Wanderers last drew a league game at The Reebok in January 2011.
Squad: Sylvain Marveaux, Danny Guthrie and Steven Taylor are confirmed absentees and Yohan Cabaye returns after serving a one match ban.
News is awaited on the severity of the knee injury that forced Davide Santon off at half in the midweek West Brom game while Peter Lovenkrands is also reportedly suffering from a calf problem.
BWFC: Marcos Alonso (foot) is out.
Ref: Peter Walton. The Northamptonshire whistler took charge of his only other Magpies game in the scoreless season opener at home to Arsenal, dismissing Gervinho.
Walton has waved his red card during three of his last four Boxing Day fixtures - be warned.
