PREM: Southampton v Manchester United preview
Southampton v Manchester United preview
Summer signing Diogo Dalot is in line for his Premier League debut when Manchester United visit struggling Southampton on Saturday.
The 19-year-old has only made two appearances since joining from Porto, both coming in cup competitions.
However, he is set to feature for United, who are without injured duo Alexis Sanchez and Victor Lindelof.
"This weekend will be the first call for Dalot," said United manager Jose Mourinho. "He is ready now.
"He had an important injury, surgery, then a second injury in the national team when he was coming up. But now he has been training for two weeks and we think he is ready now."
After beating Juventus in early November, United have come back down to earth with a 3-1 loss to Manchester City, a goalless home draw against Crystal Palace and a last-gasp victory over Young Boys in the Champions League.
Southampton manager Mark Hughes is under increasing pressure following a poor run of results which has left his team in the bottom three.
Saints also went out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday following a penalty shootout defeat against Leicester.
However, former United forward Hughes said: "It is an opportunity for us and is not one we should be apprehensive about. We have got to be really positive.
"The pressure will build until we get maximum points from Premier League games, but we are not very far away."
Southampton will again be without on-loan Liverpool forward Danny Ings, who has been carrying a hamstring problem which saw him miss both last weekend's defeat at Fulham and the Carabao Cup exit at Leicester.
Defender Ryan Bertrand is struggling with a back issue which has kept him out of full training, so will be assessed. Striker Shane Long continues treatment on his ankle injury.
Summer signing Dalot could make his Premier League debut for United.
Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian missed the midweek match against Young Boys through injury but Luke Shaw is available after returning from suspension.