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Preview: Southampton vs. Manchester United

Sports Mole previews the Premier League encounter between Southampton and Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will have captain Wayne Rooney available when his team travel to Southampton on Monday evening.

Rooney missed United's 2-1 win over Stoke City with a knee problem, but the forward has recovered in time to feature at St Mary's.

The 29-year-old is likely to replace James Wilson, but there will be no place for midfielder Angel di Maria who is still suffering with a hamstring injury.

Van Gaal revealed on Friday that defender Jonny Evans was ready to return, but with United having registered four successive wins, he is only expected to feature on the substitutes' bench.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has been hit with the news that midfielder Jack Cork will be missing for up to two months with an ankle injury.

The former Chelsea trainee joins Morgan Schneiderlin on the sidelines, with defender Toby Alderweireld also doubtful after suffering a knock at Arsenal on Wednesday.

With his options limited, Koeman could push Maya Yoshida into midfield with Florin Gardos being handed his first Premier League start in the centre of defence.

Southampton are currently on their worst run of the campaign with only one point being registered in the last three games.

Southampton:

Form in Premier League: WWWDLL
Form in all competitions: WWWDLL

Possible starting lineup: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand, Wanyama, Yoshida, S. Davis, Tadic, Long, Pelle

Manchester United:

Recent form: DLWWWW

Possible starting lineup: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Young; Herrera, Fellaini, Carrick, Mata; Van Persie, Rooney

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Darren Plant
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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