James Wilson should get second shot at Steve Bruce's Hull

Even after they have relinquished the role, American presidents are referred to as "Mr. President" until their death. It is not clear whether there is a similar policy for Manchester United captains, but there will be a collection of them on show at Old Trafford this Saturday.

Unfortunately for the first United captain to win the league since the '60s, he now goes by the moniker "under pressure manager Steve Bruce." Fellow United skippers present and past, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, hope to increase that pressure.

As a former United man, Bruce believes in giving youth a chance. Specifically, he believes in giving his own son a chance, and Alex Bruce flies through the Hull defence like a piano being pushed downstairs. Rather like his old man.

The younger Bruce has identified Marouane Fellaini as "a threat as well as a big physical presence." The Belgian is certainly one of United's form players, along with Wayne Rooney and David De Gea, and has kept both Juan Mata and Ander Herrera out of the team recently.

A mystery has started to form around Herrera. He hasn't taken the field since a wobbly showing against West Bromwich Albion and should have recovered from the rib injury he suffered earlier in the campaign. He had started well and the club haven't let any information on this situation slip. Watch that space.

One man in the worst form of possibly his entire career is Robin van Persie. The statistics from last weekend make for ugly reading. Van Persie completed only two passes in the entire game, for example. While it is refreshingly different from last season that the reasons for Van Persie's malaise have not been leaked, there is something clearly amiss.

As manager in this fixture last year, Ryan Giggs threw James Wilson on for his competitive debut and was rewarded with two goals. Radamel Falcao is still only in light training and this is the time for Wilson to start. Louis van Gaal was keen to cite Wilson as a factor in Danny Welbeck's sale, and this is the time to prove it.
Hull have managed to concede 17 goals in their 12 outings this season and are on a three-match losing streak. They even managed to lose to Burnley. That's rather a sobering turnaround after they nearly won the FA Cup just six months ago. Anything less than victory for the home side would be shameful this weekend.

James Wilson could well get his chance under Louis van Gaal against the same Hull side he bagged a brace against last year.

A lack of ambition could be to blame for their troubles and Bruce has a long history of bringing his white flag with him when returning to his old home. He has never beaten Manchester United as a manager and nobody would be surprised if he started on Saturday.

United, of course, still have more injuries than the Accident and Emergency department of Great Ormond Street Hospital. One wonders if the treatment room at Old Trafford is staffed by frantic nurses rushing between beds, handing out rudimentary treatment before the next stretcher is wheeled in. Luke Shaw has joined sickbay, and this may see Ashley Young start at wing-back. Novel.

While United did manage to record a victory against Arsenal, they were mighty lucky in doing so. The first 30 minutes of that game were a horror show, and if Van Gaal starts with three at the back again, Hull would be mad not to test them.

But football is a mad game. United were 1-nil up without having a shot on target Saturday. In this fixture last year, Ryan Giggs was the club manager. All manner of things can happen. Steve Bruce was the first United captain to lift the Premier League title, though, and that is immortal.
If United keep winning games, maybe they can think about Wayne Rooney being the next one.

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