MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson believes that his team’s trip to Swansea City in the Premier League on Sunday is the start of a pivotal run of matches.

United go into the weekend six points clear of second-place Manchester City, who host bottom club Reading on Saturday.

Ferguson’s side then host Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion before travelling to Wigan Athletic on January 1.

The United manager believes that if his team are in the same position when they travel to the DW Stadium, they will have taken a major step toward winning a 20th league title.

Ferguson said: “We have every right to expect a challenge. I think that’s what we are good at. That’s why I’m looking at December as an opportunity to gather points and make sure we are top of the league come New Year’s Day.

“And if we are top of the league on New Year’s Day, you know well —and everyone else knows well— that we’re going to be in the ball park at the end of the season.

“We know there are going to be challenges—it could come from Chelsea, too—but I think City and ourselves will be battling it out [for the title].”

Ferguson, whose team have won 10 of their last 11 league games, has been impressed by the progress of Swansea, who are now in their second season in the Premier League.

Manager Michael Laudrup has continued the work of Brendan Rodgers, who left for Liverpool in the summer and Ferguson said that United will not take the Welsh side lightly.

“We’ve seen the results Swansea have had and the progress they’ve made as a football club and the way they do it is the important thing for me,” he said.

“They try to play and have the courage to play their football, which is good. At this time of the year, all of these games are challenges because they come thick and fast now.

“Utilizing the squad and picking the right teams will be important and hopefully we can get through it and be in the same po-sition we are now.”

Jonny Evans is set to return from a hamstring problem but may not be risked at the Liberty Stadium.

Midfielder Michael Carrick is also a minor doubt after being withdrawn at half-time in the 3-1 win over Sunderland last weekend with a hamstring injury.

Brazilian defender Rafael misses out again with a hamstring injury, Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa has yet to return from knee trouble, and winger Nani still has a hamstring injury.

After hosting United, Swansea head to Reading and Fulham before a home game against Aston Villa.