After their defeat at home by West Bromwich Albion last weekend, manager David Moyes will be desperate to get United's domestic campaign back on track.
In what is United's worst start to season in nearly a quarter of a century, they sit 12th in the table having lost half of their opening six matches.
However, Sunderland's start has been the worst in the league as they currently prop up the table with just one point.
Caretaker boss Kevin Ball took charge from Paolo Di Canio late last month after their defeat at West Brom and, despite a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in his first game in charge, there were plenty of positives to take.
History wise Sunderland have a woeful record against United, and have not beaten them in the league since March 1997 - some 22 games ago - and indeed the Red Devils have won the last five meetings.
Despite their relative struggles in the league, United's start to their European campaign has been decent and that continued with a midweek draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Manchester United may have had a shaky start to the season by their standards, but the Red Devils' misery is nothing compared to the suffocating gloom engulfing the Stadium of Light. Sunderland are still without a manager after Paolo Di Canio's disastrous reign came to a messy end, and they host the Premier League's reigning champions in Saturday's late kickoff.
Sunderland injuries and suspensions
Out: Phil Bardsley (ankle), Wes Brown (knee), Steven Fletcher (shoulder). In doubt: Andrea Dossena (thigh).
Manchester United injuries and suspensions
Out: Darren Fletcher (illness). In doubt: Rio Ferdinand (groin).
Projected lineups
Sunderland: Keiren Westwood; Jack Colback, John O'Shea, Carlos Cuéllar, Craig Gardner; Ki Sung-Yueng, Lee Cattermole, Sebastian Larsson; Emanuele Giaccherini, Jozy Altidore, Adam Johnson
Manchester United: David De Gea; Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Chris Smalling; Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick; Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia; Robin van Persie
