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Manchester United play fierce rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday
Premier League leaders City are eight points clear of second-place United
Paul Pogba is suspended for the match after his red card against Arsenal

Published: 06:46 EDT, 7 December 2017 | Updated: 07:28 EDT, 7 December 2017

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Manchester United face a crucial Premier League encounter against leaders Manchester City on Sunday - but boss Jose Mourinho is yet to seem overly hyped about the showdown at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese boss appeared to be dozing in the back the car that drove him into United's Carrington base for Thursday's training session.

Second place United have a huge opportunity to erode the eight-point lead their fierce rivals have carved out at the summit of the Premier League and have been boosted by the return to goalscoring form from summer signing Romelu Lukaku.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho arrives at training as focus turns to Manchester City

Mourinho said Zlatan Ibrahimovic has 'a big chance' of featuring against City

Paul Pogba is out of the Manchester derby after being sent off in the 3-1 victory over Arsenal

Romelu Lukaku ended his scoring drought against CSKA Moscow - just in time for City

The £75million striker notched United's equaliser in their 2-1 comeback victory over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday - his 13th goal of the season and his second for United since October - as United booked their place in the last-16 of the Champions League.

The 24-year-old will be raring to make another positive impression with Mourinho watching on in training after the Portuguese boss said Zlatan Ibrahimovic has 'a big chance' of featuring against City.

Both men were snapped arriving in a fleet of cars on Thursday morning. Lukaku's potential return to form comes at a crucial time with Paul Pogba, pictured covering his face as he arrived at United training, suspended for the City clash.

The France midfielder saw red as United recorded a commanding 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for a rash challenge on Hector Bellerin last Saturday.

Pogba has vowed to still be on hand to support his team-mates in the build-up.

'Unfortunately, I won't play, but I'll be there to help the team mentally,' Pogba said. 'To win those games, you need to give everything. You need to be there offensively and defensively.

'You need to kill the game when you have one chance because they are City and they have quality as well up front and they can kill the game at any time.

'They're first for good reason, because they've been doing great at the start of the season. They keep winning, they didn't lose one game and obviously, mentally, they're very strong. We need to be as good as they are, mentally.

United defender Matteo Darmian pictured arriving at Carrington on Thursday morning

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be hoping to make his first United appearance since November 25

Sergio Romero will drop back to United's bench to make way for David De Gea against City

Mourinho said that Marouane Fellaini has a chance of making an appearance against City

'Mentally, I need to be there to boost the team and, hopefully, it will help. I have complete trust in the team. Even if I'm not there, I'll be there watching the game, giving positive energy and, hopefully, we're going to win.'

Mourinho said after the Moscow victory that Eric Bailly and Michael Carrick will join Pogba on the sidelines but Marouane Fellaini and Phil Jones have a chance of playing.