One Manchester United player needs Ruben Amorim to show how good a coach he really is

Having produced two spirited and uplifting performances on the road against Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester United will fancy their chances of getting the better of Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

The Saints sit rock-bottom of the Premier League table after winning just one of their 20 league matches since winning promotion at the end of last season.

On paper, it is the easiest league fixture United could have wished for after two such challenging away trips in quick succession. But as they have proven far too many times in recent years, nothing can be taken for granted.

Southampton have conceded 44 league goals this season and boast the worst away record across England's top four tiers, earning just two points from a possible 30. United will be expected to win and win well.

Following Sunday's FA Cup triumph over Arsenal, Bruno Fernandes addressed the need for United to maintain the standards that had been set against the Gunners and Liverpool, meaning Ruben Amorim will probably find himself warning his players against complacency ahead of their first home game of 2025.

Fernandes also offered an insight into what Amorim has been telling his players behind closed doors, with the United head coach urging them to become more productive inside the final third.

"The manager has been telling us a lot that we have to score more goals," Fernandes told Sky Sports. "And that's true because we are a team that has the capability of scoring goals.

"I know we have a lot of young players in front but we have qualities and we have to score goals because Rasmus [Hojlund] is capable of scoring goals."

Scoring 16 times in his maiden season at Old Trafford, Hojlund has proven he is capable of putting the ball into the back