Man U can secure Europa League place

MANCHESTER United face Zorya Luhansk tonight knowing that a draw in the frigid Ukraine will propel them into the knockout stages of the Europa League.

The English Premier League side, however, will want to go through in style with a victory, even if Europe’s second-tier competition does not feature at the top of their priorities in Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge.

The Old Trafford side will also be eager to end a bout of frustrating draws, the latest being a 1-1 stalemate at Everton at the weekend when Mourinho’s men conceded an 89th-minute equaliser from the spot.

The Zorya match will take place in Odessa, southern Ukraine, a four-hour flight from northern England and where temperatures will hover around freezing by kickoff.

Zorya might already be out of the competition, but United’s French forward, Anthony Martial, is not expecting the Ukrainians to lie down.

“It is very different, not just the supporters, but the weather. Over there, it’s really cold at this time of the season,” he said.

Fellow Premier League representatives Southampton face Israeli side Hapoel Beer-Sheva at St Mary’s Stadium knowing that victory or a 0-0 draw will put them in the last 32, where eight clubs who failed to progress from the Champions League will enter the fray.

Ajax, Roma, Zenit and Schalke are among the sides already through.