Manchester United vs Southampton preview: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer missing host of players

Antonio Valencia will be among a number of absentees when caretaker Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to extend his 11-match unbeaten Premier League run at home to struggling Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard also remain absent, along with Phil Jones, Nemanja Matic and Matteo Darmian.

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Anthony Martial could return to the fold after a groin complaint and Marcus Rashford is primed to start after being named on the bench in Wednesday's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

"It's the last session today but we're not going to take any risks so maybe Anthony [could play], but it might even be a few more days before he's ready," Solskjaer said.

"So probably the squad will look similar to what it did on Wednesday.

"Rashford [is fully fit]. He said he still felt it Wednesday night, so he'll be ready, so I'll probably start him."

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Solskjaer's opposite number this weekend, Ralph Hasenhuttl, thinks the Norwegian has been an "outrageous" success at United.

"To be unbeaten [in the league] since he took the job is amazing, it is outrageous," said the Saints boss.

Team news

Martial could return for injury-hit United as Solskjaer prepares to start Rashford on Saturday.

Martial will be assessed after a groin complaint and Rashford is fully fit after an ankle injury saw him start the midweek win at Palace on the bench.

However, Herrera, Mata and Lingard are set to miss out along with Jones, Matic, Darmian and Valencia. James Garner made his debut at Selhurst Park, where fellow teenager Mason Greenwood came on for his debut.

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As for the visitors, Southampton will again be without forward Danny Ings and midfielder Mario Lemina at Old Trafford.

Ings has been sidelined by hamstring trouble, while Lemina is recovering from an abdominal problem and neither are able to train with the squad yet.

Hasenhuttl reported no fresh injury problems following the midweek win over fellow relegation battlers Fulham, but striker Michael Obafemi (hamstring) is set to miss the rest of the season.

Opta stats

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• United have won just one of their five home Premier League games against Southampton since Sir Alex Ferguson retired (W1 D2 L2) - under Ferguson, they won 13 out of 14 against the Saints at Old Trafford (D1).
• Southampton have drawn their last two league matches against Man Utd; they haven't avoided defeat in three consecutively against them since May 1989 (five games).
• Since the 2013-14 campaign, only Man City and West Bromwich Albion (3) have won more away Premier League games at Old Trafford than Southampton (2).
• In Premier League history, United have come from behind to win eight matches against Southampton, a joint-record in the competition with Manchester United also coming from behind eight times to win against Newcastle and Chelsea doing so against Sunderland.
• Southampton have won just one of their last 33 Premier League games against 'big six' opponents (D9 L23), beating Arsenal 3-2 in December.

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Merson's prediction

It was a massive result for Saints against Fulham on Wednesday, their cup final, but I don't see how they're beating Man Utd.

Their big game was against Fulham, but United will be too strong for them here.

For United to get that impressive result with that many injuries at Palace was impressive. I think this is a simple victory at Old Trafford.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)

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