Manchester United return to Europa League action this evening (8.05pm kick-off) when they host French side Saint-Etienne at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho’s men finished second to Fenerbahce in Group A having won four of their six group stage matches, and all three at home.

They also go into this evening’s game off the back of a 2-0 victory over Watford on Saturday, a win that keeps them sixth in the Premier League table, and two points off Arsenal in fourth.

However, it won’t be easy against the French side though, who are fifth in Ligue 1 and have won four of their last five league matches.

Nonetheless, the Red Devils will be hot favourites to take a commanding lead to France next week, given their recent good form, and strong home record in Europe this term.

Mourinho’s men have lost just one of their last 22 games in all competitions, and haven’t tasted defeat at Old Trafford since their 2-1 defeat to neighbours Manchester City on September 12.

Thus, here are THREE reasons why United will get the victory at Old Trafford this evening…

Excellent recent run

Manchester United have lost just once since they went down 2-1 at Fenerbahce on November 3, a result which gave the Turkish side the ascendancy in Group A.

However, the Red Devils have since then won 15 of their 22 matches in all competitions, drawing six of the other seven, and losing just the once at Hull a few weeks back in their League Cup semi-final, albeit it wasn’t enough to knock Mourinho’s side out of the competition.

Since that defeat in Turkey, United have reached the League Cup final, are into the fifth round of the FA Cup, and are now just two points adrift of the top four – it’s been a good few months for the Manchester club.

Their excellent recent run has increased the optimism ten-fold around Old Trafford, and another performance like the ones of recent will surely give United the victory this evening.

Finally looking clinical in front of goal

United were guilty of missing chance after chance earlier in the season, and it was that lack of a cutting edge which has arguably thwarted their Premier League title chances this term.

The Red Devils have only lost once at Old Trafford in the league this term, but drawn six of the other 12 games, with the likes of Stoke, Burnley, West Ham, and Hull all leaving the North West with a point.

Yet it was United who let themselves down in those games, as they had ample opportunities to net, but didn’t take them.

Nonetheless, they are slowly but surely beginning to get more clinical in front of goal, having netted in all but one of their last 23 games in all competitions.

And they’re not just relying on Zlatan Ibrahimovic either, with the likes of Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Anthony Martial all finding the net in recent games.

Clearly, United are going forward with even greater purpose now, and if they can replicate recent displays against Saint-Etienne on Thursday night, they’ll create several opportunities, and likely put a few in the back of the net.

Mourinho taking competition seriously

United boss Mourinho has made it clear throughout the competition that it is a trophy he wants to win, especially as it’s one United have never won in their history.

And the Europa League could take on even greater significance should the Red Devils remain outside the top four for the next few months.

Mourinho’s men are sixth in the Premier League, albeit only two points behind fourth place Arsenal with 13 games to go, but the winners of the Europa League gain automatic qualification into next season’s Champions League, something, as it stands, United haven’t got.

And, when you look at the sides still in the competition, Mourinho’s men have got as good a chance as any if the United boss continues to take the competition seriously.

With the League Cup final coming up, he may make a few changes against Saint-Etienne, but the depth of the squad means that they should still have enough to get past the French outfit at Old Trafford on Thursday.