London (AFP) - Manchester United have the glinting incentive of a Champions League place in their sights as they prepare for an emotion-charged Premier League contest at West Ham United on Tuesday.
Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend means that United can pip their cross-town rivals to a top-four spot if they beat West Ham and then prevail at home to Bournemouth on Sunday.
An FA Cup final date against Crystal Palace follows, suddenly making United manager Louis van Gaal's horizon a great deal sunnier, but with West Ham playing their last ever game at their venerable Boleyn Ground home, United can expect to face ultra-motivated opponents.
Speaking before City's draw with Arsenal, Van Gaal said: "It's still very tough.
"Now we have to play away to West Ham United and we've seen already in the quarter-final of the FA Cup (when United won 2-1) that it's not so easy. So we have to repeat that win.
"West Ham are a very good team -- it's not for nothing they're in the top six of the table. We were lucky in the cup.
"I think we deserved to win, but we were lucky West Ham had a goal disallowed in the last minute."
Marcus Rashford was United's inspiration on their last trip to the Boleyn Ground in April, opening the scoring with a fine individual effort, and the 18-year-old striker is expected to return to the starting XI after being rested for Saturday's 1-0 win at Norwich City.
Centre-back Daley Blind should return as well, having also been rested at Carrow Road, but forward Anthony Martial and full-back Matteo Darmian are doubts.
Martial was withdrawn from the starting XI against Norwich after complaining of muscular discomfort in the warm-up, while Darmian was stretchered off with an ankle problem.
United's FA Cup win ended West Ham's hopes of bowing out at the Boleyn Ground with a piece of silverware and the east London club's chances of a top-four finish are also effectively over following Saturday's unexpected 4-1 defeat at home to Swansea City.
Manchester United can pip City to a top-four spot if they beat West Ham and then prevail at home to Bournemouth on Sunday (AFP Photo/Justin Tallis)
