Manchester United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford on Monday as they go in search of a record-breaking 19th top flight title this term.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side missed out by just a point to Chelsea last season and will be determined to go one better this time.

Newcastle, in contrast, will be seeking to stay up after bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking following the disastrous 2008/9 campaign.

Chris Hughton's Magpies confounded their critics by winning the Championship at a canter last season and will be looking to keep the feel-good factor going.

They will be hoping for a repeat performance of two seasons ago when Kevin Keegan's side drew 1-1 with the Red Devils at Old Trafford on the opening day.

Ferguson may be tempted to keep with the same starting line-up which saw off Chelsea in the Community Shield last time.

But he has plenty of choice in all departments, with Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov and in-form new recruit Javier Hernandez all vying for a berth up front.

But Hernandez may have to be content with a place on the bench once again after a midweek trip to Mexico for the friendly draw with Spain.

At the back, England defender Rio Ferdinand is still a month away from fitness, meaning Ferguson must decide whether to hand Chris Smalling his first start after the 20-year-old came off the bench during the Community Shield win.

Patrice Evra may also come back into the side after he was given an additional week off to allow his body to recover from the strain of a taxing season and the added demands of the World Cup.

In central midfield, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and rising stars Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley will all be competing to start.

For Newcastle, manager Hughton is confident striker Andy Carroll will have recovered from his back problem in time to lead the line.

The 21-year-old suffered the injury in the Magpies' final pre-season friendly against Rangers but has trained this week.

Alan Smith (ankle) is also available but striker Leon Best and defender Danny Simpson are facing spells on the sidelines with similar problems.

Sol Campbell is not match-fit yet and will have to wait for his debut while defender Steven Taylor (shoulder) and new signing Dan Gosling (knee) are long-term absentees.

Possible starting XIs:
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Fabio, Scholes, Carrick, Park, Valencia, Rooney, Owen.

Newcastle: Harper, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gutierrez, Nolan, Barton, Guthrie, Smith, Carroll.