Manchester United are in the Premier League title conversation as long as Cristiano Ronaldo is around, says Andros Townsend.

The Everton star spoke exclusively to talkSPORT ahead of the Toffees' GameDay clash at Old Trafford on Saturday, which kicks off the weekend and is live on talkSPORT.

Can Townsend and Everton spoil the Ronaldo party at Old Trafford?

Ronaldo and co. go into the match in indifferent form with one win in their last three matches.

But their most recent outing showed exactly why they have Ronaldo on board as the Portuguese fired in a stoppage-time winner to see United edge to a crucial Champions League victory over Villarreal.

And Townsend admits he and his teammates are well aware of the damage Ronaldo could do if Everton aren't at it.

"Any team that has Cristiano Ronaldo has to be put up there with the odds on winning the Premier League," Townsend told talkSPORT.

Ronaldo already has five goals in his second spell at Man United

"He barely touched the ball for 95 minutes and then he pops up in the last seconds and sends the crowd into raptures.

"We know it's going to be extremely tough, we know the fans are going to be riding that Cristiano Ronaldo last-minute goal wave on Saturday afternoon and we have to be prepared for it.

"We have to start fast, catch them unawares, try to capitalise on the fact they played on Wednesday night and we had a full week to prepare and hopefully we can get a positive result."

Ronaldo has made a great start to his second spell at Man United but Townsend hasn't done half badly at his new club.

Townsend has landed on his feet having left Crystal Palace on a free in the summer

He, along with fellow summer signing Demarai Gray have hit the ground running this term. Townsend has four goals and three assists in eight appearances, while fellow forward Gray has three Premier League goals under his belt.

Townsend and Gray will be looking to take the attention off the likes of Ronaldo but the 30-year-old admits it's going to require a huge team effort to get a result, especially with forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison unavailable.

"I don't think there's ever a good time to play Manchester United at Old Trafford," Townsend continued. "Even though they didn't play well against Villarreal, they still won the game.

"We know we have to be prepared, even if we're winning, for 95/96 minutes. On the flip side, we're missing our talismen from last season, our two top goalscorers.

Gray and Townsend are primed for their biggest tests as Everton players to date

"Other than the Aston Villa game we've survived without them but going to Old Trafford we can't be carrying anyone. We all have to chip in, whether it be myself, Dimi, Salomon [Rondon], Alex [Iwobi] or whoever's coming in.

"We're looking to get a point or three going into the international break and then we can get some bodies back and really assess where we want to go this season."

Listen to full commentary of Manchester United vs Everton live on talkSPORT, kick-off 12:30pm