Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne says their top four credentials will be put to the test against Manchester United tomorrow.

Later this month, after the Manchester United game, Villa must also face Arsenal and Liverpool.

Ireland centre back Dunne believes that, by the end of December, Villa will know whether they are Champions League material or not. And after the let-down of last season, when Villa's top-four challenge faded late on in the season, they are desperate to make amends this time round.

Dunne said: "We've got three really big games coming up. Come January, we'll know what sort of position we'll be aiming for.

"We all respect and know who Man United are but, for us to start challenging the top four, these are the types of games in which we have to go and have the belief to play and impose our own game.

"We'll give it a real good go at Old Trafford and try to prove to Man United and the rest of the league that we are here to challenge. We can go there confident.

"We know that, on any given day, we can beat anyone really. We've got a squad full of quality so nobody should be afraid going into the game.

"Man United do have a decent record against Villa but this season we feel that we are a little bit different."