Manchester United visit neighbours City on Thursday (8pm kick-off) looking for the victory that would take them into the Premier League’s top four.

Jose Mourinho’s men took advantage of City’s participation in the FA Cup semi-finals last week to close the gap on Pep Guardiola’s side to just a point, courtesy of a 2-0 success at Burnley on Sunday.

That win, their 17th of the campaign, also extended their unbeaten league run to 23 matches, dating back to October 23, and they’ll look to maintain that fine streak at the Etihad on Thursday.

However, it won’t be easy against Guardiola’s City, who go into the clash off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, and knowing that defeat to their neighbours would dethrone them of a top four spot.

Nonetheless, City are one of just three teams to have beaten Mourinho’s United in the league this season after their victory at Old Trafford back in September, and with just one loss at the Etihad all campaign, they’ll be confident of securing the three points on Thursday.

Yet, Mourinho’s United go into this one in form, yet the Red Devils boss may be forced into a few changes given their recent fixture pile-up.

Thus, here are THREE United stars who deserve a chance against City…

Luke Shaw

England international Luke Shaw has slowly but surely worked his way back into the reckoning at Old Trafford, and may well earn his ninth Premier League start of the season on Thursday.

The 21-year-old has been publicly criticised and questioned by manager Mourinho at times this term, but performed well in the 3-0 victory at Sunderland a few weeks ago, and also played the full 120 minutes of their Europa League success over Anderlecht last week.

And with games coming thick and fast for the Red Devils, and injury issues mounting up for Mourinho, Shaw may come back into the side at the Etihad Stadium in what could be a huge confidence boost for the left-back.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Armenia captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been in fine form of late for United, although was dropped to the bench against Burnley on Sunday.

And that appears to be an indication that Mourinho is readying him for the Manchester derby on Thursday.

The 28-year-old has scored three goals in his last three starts for the Red Devils, including in both of their Europa League clashes with Anderlecht, and in the 3-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League a few weeks back.

Clearly, the attacker is playing some good football and carrying a genuine threat going forward, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic out for the season, Mourinho needs his frontmen to stand up and be counted, starting at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

Marcus Rashford

England international Marcus Rashford was another United star who dropped to the bench at Turf Moor on Sunday, perhaps suggesting that he’ll play a full part against City.

The 19-year-old has been in excellent form in recent weeks, producing an outstanding display to net in their 2-0 win over Premier League leaders Chelsea ten days ago, as well as scoring the all important extra time winner against Anderlecht last week.

Rashford has proven in recent weeks that the injury to Ibrahimovic shouldn’t be too much of an issue to United between now and the end of the campaign, and given that the England international scored the winner against City at the Etihad last season, he’ll have fond memories and look to rekindle those on Thursday.