Yazza: Player that the streets won't forget? Has to be Dimitri Payet! Lifted West Ham every time he played and was magical on the ball. Just a shame he didn't settle fully in England...

Image source, Getty Images

Since a 4-1 defeat at the Riverside Stadium in October 2005, Manchester United have remained unbeaten in their last 13 matches in normal time with Middlesbrough across all competitions (W8 D5), with their last meeting coming in March 2017.

(Middlesbrough did progress past Man Utd in the 2015 League Cup on penalties after a 0-0 draw)

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder has history at Old Trafford.

Arguably, his Sheffield United team were even less fancied than Middlesbrough are tonight when they came here in January 2021.

But they won thanks to Kean Bryan's opener and Oli Burke's winner.

Wilder's Blades also got a draw at Bramall Lane in November 2019.

Middlesbrough have a chance.

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder, speaking to ITV Sport: "This is another opportunity to try and get a result, for the players and everybody at the club. We don't want the evening to pass us by. We want to make it dangerous for Manchester United.

"We have to have a strategy. When we have the chance to play we have to be progressive and cause them issues. We have to play as a team, everyone has a job to do.

"We don't want to sit back and sit on the crossbar for 95 minutes, otherwise the inevitable will happen."

Nathan: Having turned 40 not that long ago, I still find myself shouting “VAN BASTEN!!! when I score a goal. Even if it’s against my 2 year old daughter in the garden.

Manchester United

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, speaking to ITV Sport about if Paul Pogba is ready: "Yes otherwise he wouldn't be in the starting XI. Looking forward to seeing him on the pitch.

"He needs game time as often as possible. He has been out for more than two months.

On Jadon Sancho: "He has been training well. I hope he can show a similar kind of performance today on the pitch. We know what he can do. I have known him since he was 17."

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Hoiles: My baller to reminisce about has to be Newcastle’s Ben Arfa. What a player he was in the Premier League. Could have easily played for some of the big teams at the time. A big streets won’t forget player.

Uncle Busby: The streets will never forget? Dimitar Berbatov. Bloke had a touch like silk and a fantastic footballing brain. I always felt he’d be an even better futsal player.

ITV

Roy Keane talking to ITV about the speculation linking him to the vacant Sunderland managerial job:

"I have no control over that. I made it clear I would like to go back in football as manager one day but the club has to want you and you have to want the club and the contract has be right. Let's see what takes shape over the next few days.

Image source, Getty Images

Ralf Rangnick said he expects Paul Pogba to "show up" when he returns for Manchester United, regardless of whether or not he wants to leave the club in the summer.

The midfielder starts tonight after recovering from a groin injury he sustained in November.

While Pogba's current deal expires in the summer, United interim boss Rangnick admitted he has not yet discussed the Frenchman's situation with the club hierarchy.

He said: "It's up to him now. His contract is expiring in the summer and if, in the end, he would like to stay or go somewhere else, he has to show up.

"It's not only in the interest for us as a club but it's in his personal interest that he plays and performs at the highest possible level in the next couple of weeks.

"My focus now is to play the best possible season we can, to be as successful as we can be.

"For Paul, it is in his own interest to play on a high level and do everything to get into the first XI. That will not automatically happen because we have other good players in that area."

United and Boro met at this same stage of the competition 17 years ago.

A fresh-faced Wayne Rooney scored two absolute beauties in that tie...

Happy from Stockton: Just the 9443 Boro fans here tonight. Sold out in 24 hours . Taking 1800 to QPR next Wednesday as well #great, external support

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Young forward Hannibal Mejbri gets a place on the Manchester United bench tonight after being elevated from the Under-23s by Ralf Rangnick.

Mejbri has been on two lots of international duty with Tunisia already this season, in the Olympic football tournament in Japan and the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The 19-year-old was signed from Monaco in 2019 - he signed a long-term contract in March last year.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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Former Manchester United defender John O'Shea says the pressure is on Ralf Rangnick's side heading into Friday's FA Cup fourth-round match against Middlesbrough because the club need to win a trophy.

O'Shea was part of the United side that won the FA Cup in 2004 and knows it won't be easy for the club to try to win the competition for the first time since 2016.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, he said: "Middlesbrough have a nice bit of momentum and they want to keep that going but the priority will be the league for them and keeping that run going.

"It’s a big game for United, too, in the sense that they need a trophy. It will be a test for them without a doubt.

"I’m sure the manager and the staff will be fully focussed after the little break they have had. Pogba coming back too gives the manager a chance to see him for the first time in the flesh on the training ground.

"If he was maybe fit that could be a boost for them. We’ll see but they’ve definitely got more pressure on them now."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood was released on bail on Wednesday after being arrested on suspicion of raping a woman.

The 20-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of assault on Sunday following allegations on social media.

He was then further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill on Tuesday.

Manchester United have said the forward would not return to training or matches until further notice.

Greater Manchester Police said Greenwood was arrested after the force "became aware of online social media images and videos posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence".

It said magistrates had granted a second extension to keep him in custody until Wednesday but he had now been bailed pending further investigations.

Read the full piece

Msikkle: Nice to see Pogba back, hopeful it will be the great Pogba and not okay or lacklustre Pogba.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Paul Pogba plays his first game since the beginning of November.

His contract expires at the end of the season and there has been no sense he is going to sign an extension.

As ever though, the Manchester United midfielder is a magnet for attention and tonight will be no different.

Middlesbrough have really picked up under Chris Wilder, who has won eight out of his 12 games since he took charge at the start of November.

We know he is a good manager, and he has won at Old Trafford before - with Sheffield United in January 2021.

I don't see a repeat result this time though and in any case Boro have got bigger fish to fry, because Wilder has put them right back in the mix for promotion out of the Championship.

It will be interesting to see what kind of team United boss Ralf Rangnick puts out, but it should be strong enough for them to get the job done. I don't see any upsets here.

Paul Pogba is back from injury and available for the first time since Rangnick took charge. If Pogba is fit, I'd be tempted to start him and let him show him what he can do.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Head here to see the predictions in full

Paul Ruler: At the game it is chilly but no lorries seen inside the ground. Too much #theapprentice, external influence in this update. (see 18:49)

You can never have too much Apprentice influence Paul...

Image source, BBC One

Paul Pogba makes his first start for Manchester United since 2 November as Ralf Rangnick names a strong side for the FA Cup tie.

Dean Henderson makes his third start of the season in goal while Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo are also in the starting XI.

Former Manchester United defender Paddy McNair is in the Middlesbrough team while Arsenal loanee Folarin Balagun makes his first start for the Championship side.