Manchester United reached the last 32 of the Europa League following a 2-0 win in Zorya on Thursday – their first European away victory in over three years.

Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed a comfortable win for Jose Mourinho’s side, who will go into Monday’s draw unseeded after missing out on top spot to Turkish side Fenerbahce.

However, their attentions turn back to the Premier League this weekend, as they host Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Spurs lost their unbeaten league start to Chelsea a fortnight ago, but bounced back with a 5-0 win over Swansea last weekend, and then a 3-1 success over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday.

They’ll head to Manchester confident of recording a third win in five visits to Old Trafford, but Mourinho’s improving United will hope to win at home in the league for the first time since September 24.

United are seven points behind Spurs in sixth, and a further three behind Manchester City in fourth, so they could really do with a win on Sunday.

In what has been an indifferent start to the season, a few United players have been below their best at times this season, and here are TWO that need to improve over the coming weeks…

Jesse Lingard

England international Jesse Lingard started the season with two goals and two assists in his first six United games, but has since struggled to recreate that form.

The 23-year-old was excellent in the Community Shield win over Leicester, and then scored and assisted in the Red Devils’ 4-1 victory over Fenerbahce in October.

However, since that Europa League win, Lingard has scored just once in seven appearances for United, and hasn’t started their last three games in all competitions.

With Henrikh Mkhitaryan steadily improving and Anthony Martial beginning to find some form, it’s up to Lingard to respond, and start reproducing his early season form for United once again.

Marcus Rashford

The same can be said for England striker Marcus Rashford, whose vast amount of football over the last 12 months appears to be catching up on him.

The 19-year-old netted four times in his first seven games of the season, and looked like the player that broke into the United and England side last season.

However, since his last goal against Leicester on September 24, the young forward has not scored for United in 12 appearances, nine of which have been starts.

He has also created just one chance in his last five games, yet you sense that as soon as he scores once, plenty more will follow, just like it did last season, and indeed at the start of this campaign.

A spell away from the side over the next few weeks may be needed to get Rashford back to full fitness ahead of the New Year.