Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo is hoping to break his Premier League goal hoodoo when Manchester United host Southampton at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Still not a starting XI for Ighalo, the former Watford forward will be gunning for his 10th Premier League appearance for the Red Devils.

Manchester United could finally climb to third position on the league table with a win against the Saints.

With Chelsea losing 3-0 to Sheffield at Bramall Lane on Saturday and Leicester blown away by 4-1 at the Vitality Stadium, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer stand the chance of seeing his top three target comes to reality.

For Ighalo, he could hope to be handed a starting XI having made late cameos in United previous games.

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The on loan Shanghai Shenhua striker is also yet to find the net in all the previous nine games he came in as substitute.

He has found himself falling down Solksjaer’s packing order who prefers playing in form Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood in front.

Ighalo’s five goals have come in the FA Cup and Europa League in the last 14 games he played with United.

He also have just one assist to bis name.

Ahead of the crucial game on Monday, the Reds have lost just once in their last 15 home league games – winning nine and drawing five. 

They also won the last four in a row by an aggregate score of 13-2.

United will be hoping to continue their dominance over the Saints having remained unbeaten in seven games against Southampton. 

At Old Trafford in the Premier League, they have played the Saints on 20 occasions, winning 15, drawing three and losing only twice.
In Southampton’s 20 seasons in the Premier League, only once before have they avoided defeat in both encounters – that came with two draws in 2013/14. 
Both team played 1-1 earlier in the first leg this season at the Saint Mary’s Stadium.