A top-four Premier League finish is in sight for Manchester United as they gear up for Saturday’s clash with Southampton at Old Trafford, where Marcus Rashford looks set to return to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting line-up.
The return of Rashford is a timely boost for United but it seems unlikely that Anthony Martial will be risked, meaning Romelu Lukaku should get another chance to press his claims for regular first-team football.
The much-maligned Lukaku has had his struggles but there are signs that he is beginning to find form and fitness after notching a brace in the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace in mid-week. It is no coincidence that the Belgian forward is starting to find form after playing the full 90 minutes in three successive league games for the first time since October.
It seems to be quickly forgotten by many critics that Lukaku is ranked 20th in the all-time list of top Premier League scorers after notching 111 in 245 top-flight appearances during his career and he is still only 25 years old.
The weight of expectation at Old Trafford has weighed heavily on Lukaku’s broad shoulders this season as eight of his ten league goals have come in away games but he could be key for United in the coming weeks as a kind run of fixtures offers him a chance to make his mark.
While United have had their problems against Southampton at Old Trafford in recent times, winning only one of the last five meetings at the Theatre of Dreams, Lukaku relishes playing Saturday’s opponents, scoring seven goals and laying on three assists in eleven appearances against Saints.
In fact, Lukaku can call upon impressive returns against United’s next few league opponents as Arsenal away follows the home game against Southampton and he has scored one goal, as well as effected two assists, in his last three appearances in all competitions at The Emirates.
Then it’s Watford and Lukaku has three goals and two assists from six against the Hornets, before the Belgian takes on Wolves for only the second time in his career.