United will take on a Boro side who are a very different proposition to the outfit that ran out 2-0 victors at Glanford Park earlier in the season. Adam Johnson scored both goals that night.
Gareth Southgate had always seemed a safe if unspectacular choice as Boro manager, and the club’s chairman Steve Gibson felt wins such as that over the Iron had covered up poor performances.
When he brought Southgate’s reign to an end Boro were fourth in the table. Now managed by Gordon Strachan, Boro sit 14th.
“I cannot speak about what has gone on before here, but I know what I do works," said Strachan, whose job would come under pressure if Boro drop any closer to the relegation zone given the standard of players at the club.
"I ask myself every day, am I good enough to deal with it? The results have made things harder but as a manager I have got the answers.”
Strachan will give winger Johnson as long as possible to prove his fitness, he missed the loss to Newcastle because of a slight hamstring tear.
Defender Sean St Ledger is unavailable as his loan spell has expired and any permanent move cannot be completed until the transfer window opens on New Year’s Day.
Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) and Seb Hines (ankle) are out, while Jeremie Aliadiere has returned to training after an ankle injury and could make the bench.
Scunthorpe will welcome back first choice goalkeeper Joe Murphy after the Irishman sat out the 1-1 draw at Reading due to a one-match suspension. Josh Lillis will drop back to the bench.
Nigel Adkins is also boosted by the return of Cliff Byrne (hamstring) and Martyn Woolford (foot). Kenny Milne is back in training but still some way from a first-team return from his knee injury, while Ben May remains absent with an ankle problem.