Manchester United: 5 Players to Watch in This Weekend's World Cup Qualification

Those hoping to catch Manchester United on television this weekend may be disappointed. 

But the Red Devils have always been a squad with a roster filled with world-class players, and with World Cup qualification continuing this weekend, there will be plenty of Sir Alex Ferguson's players to follow in the next few days.

Who are the ones worth watching?

Join me as I present five Manchester United players to keep an eye on this weekend in the opening stages of World Cup qualifying.

After an embarrassing 1-0 loss to the United States in an August friendly, Mexico is eagerly anticipating their next opportunity to dispel the notion that they're not the best team in North America.

That's incredibly unfortunate for Costa Rica.

Mexico has back-to-back World Cup qualification matches this weekend against Costa Rica and if the Mexicans stand any chance of winning, it'll be because of their attack.

Cue Javier Hernandez.

Costa Rica is fairly conservative, scoring one or less goals in seven of their last 10 competitive matches, but only losing twice during that span. Hernandez's ability to get back on the scoresheet after scoring only twice so far this year will be Mexico's triumph or undoing.

The most hated man in London is the one everyone will be looking at in Amsterdam.

Robin Van Persie made up half of the goals the Dutch scored in Euro 2012 play—an impressive thing unless you consider they only scored twice.

Against Turkey and then Hungary, Van Persie will be called on to pressure the two best opponents the Netherlands will face in World Cup qualification.

If the newly signed Red Devils player gets one or two between the posts, it'll be smooth sailing for the Dutch into their third-straight World Cup.

If there are two matches where Portugal will be able to take it easy in World Cup qualification, it'll be these ones.

Luxembourg and Azerbaijan provide little more than the kind of quality in opposition you'll find on the training pitch.

But, everyone has their hiccups, even a Portugal team who made the semi-finals of last summer's Euro 2012 tournament.

Like Manchester United teammate Nani, Nemanja Vidic is facing two of his easiest opponents this weekend—Scotland and Wales.

Conceding anything less than draws against these two countries will be devastating to Serbia's qualification chances and morale.

Vidic will be counted on at centre-back to captain the defense and not allow a surprise counter-attack to come to fruition.

England has one of its easiest opponents in Moldova, followed by one of its hardest in the Ukraine.

And it'll be up to English winger Ashley Young to provide steady pressure along the sideline against both opponents. Letting up on the accelerator could cause a breakdown in the midfield and a surprise concession of goal, so it'll be important for Young to keep the pace high in both matches.