Manchester United held by Southampton after Romelu Lukaku is stretchered off with head injury

A few boos around Old Trafford as the final whistle goes. Three straight draws over Christmas for United.

Full-time: Manchester United 0-0 Southampton

United are loading at the box at every opportunity here but Southampton are holding tight at the back. Time is almost up...

Stephens defends brilliantly, hooking the ball away just as Lingard had gambled on a loose ball inside the six yard area.

Three minutes of time added on here.

Pogba just launched a ball forward for Martial to race onto and there were seven United players still in their own half.

Boufal now heads off for Southampton with Nathan Redmond onto replace him for the final five minutes.

United have the ball in the back of the net! But it won't count. Young pings a low free kick in from the left that falls to Pogba who prods home at the near post, but the Frenchman was stood offside as he did so.

Martial slips a ball down the inside left for Shaw who wins a corner, but again it comes to nothing with the last touch coming off Rashford. Southampton are making another change now, with Long off to be replaced by Gabbiadini

Southampton work another opening with Long and Ward-Prowse exchanging passes before finding Tadic on the edge of the box. He has a moment to take aim, but prods his effort wide.

United have become slower and slower as this half has wore on; they haven't got close to getting in behind the Southampton backline.

Matic tries his luck from range again; this one is probably the worst of the bench. United are looking as clueless as ever with 20 minutes remaining here. They are lucky Southampton are having their own issues in the final third.

Young takes it and whips a cracking effort over the wall which veers just wide.

Instantly, Martial drives at the Southampton back line and wins a free kick. A bit of a generous decision, that one, there didn't look to be much contact.

Here's that change, Martial on for Mkhitaryan, who's had a truly dreadful day at the office.

Anthony Martial is preparing to come on. As he does that, Ward-Prowse pings in another peach of a free kick that De Gea just about manages to punch clear. His reward is being taken out mid-air by Jones. Thankfully for United, the Spaniard is back up on his feet,

Oh dear. Another left-footed cross from Mkhitaryan sails straight out of play. He was under no pressure there.

Boufal and Lingard both pick up bookings in the space of a couple of minutes.

Ashley Young might be in a bit of trouble later this week; the referee missed what looked to be a clear elbow on Tadic, landing one in the stomach.

Henrikh Mkhiatyran cuts in from the left, working the ball onto his right looking to shoot but his low effort is straight at McCarthy - who still hasn't been really troubled this evening.

United's front four at the moment is Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan and Rashford. It's looking pretty clueless out there at the moment, you wonder how long it is before Anthony Martial is introduced.

Southampton has started this half well. United; wretched.

De Gea denies Long! Southampton saunter through the middle of United again with Ward-Prowse stretching out to the right to receive the ball. He cuts a low ball back in to find Long's excellent run but the United goalkeeper somehow gets the ball over the bar.

Lingard pings an inviting ball across goal after being slipped through by Lindelof but Rashford can't stretch far enough to get on the end of it.

United get us back underway for the second-half.

Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Southampton

Shane Long is moving rather uncomfortably at the minute; he's been a handful for Jones and Lindelof so far this evening.

Six minutes of time added on here; Matic tries another effort from range but it's an easy save from McCarthy.

That's a bit better from Mkhitaryan. Pogba produces another wonderful long-range pass to find him out on the right and this time he gets his delivery right, finding Lingard inside the six yard box. There is plenty of pace on the cross so the England international tries to guide it into the far corner, but his deft header is sent wide.

Matic produces a fine ball to free Mkhitaryan down the inside left but once again, the Armenian's delivery isn't good enough. The ball sails all the way over to the other side of the pitch where Young can keep it alive, but by this time, Southampton have enough players back to quell the attack.

Five minutes of the first half-remaining.

Matic tries his luck with an ambitious effort from a good 30 yards out but he sails harmlessly over the bar.

Boufal looks very dangerous every time he has the ball. He is popping up in dangerous positions and beating men at will so far; United need to keep a closer eye on him.

United scream for a penalty! After a neat move out on the left, Pogba takes over and lifts an inviting ball into Lingard who plucks it out of the air beautifully. He takes another touch to flick it over his man and feels Yoshida sticks out an arm to block it. Replays suggest he might have just done that.

Young does superbly down the right, twice he stops and drags the ball past Hoedt, working enough room to swing a cross in. Rashford and McCarthy both jump for it and the United man gets their first, but can't get get the direction to nod it towards goal.

A long ball over the top almost frees Rashford but he is quickly surrounded by three Southampton players in the box. He does well to turn and prod it past to Mata who has sprinted up to the edge of the box to drive a shot on goal but McCarthy parries it away, with a deflection off one of his own players knocking it safely back into his grasp.

Højbjerg picks up the first yellow card of the match for knocking Luke Shaw over after the left-back had neatly burst past his man.

It's all very sluggish at the moment for United; another move breaks down as Mkhitaryan misplaces another pass.

What a chance for the away side! Ward-Prowse's delivery is excellent, picking out Hoedt who is unmarked but he directs his header wide of the far post. More dreadful defending from United from set pieces.

Jones has to be alert and prod the ball out of the path of Long just as he is about to pull the trigger, forcing another corner for Saints.

United suddenly pounce on the counter through Rashford who brilliantly accelerates through the gears to burst past two players and into the Southampton half. He spots Mkhitaryan's run to his left but the Armenian's ball into the box is dreadful, failing to find Rashford or Lingard and sending it straight out of play.

Ward-Prowse fancies the shot despite the right angle but De Gea reads it and punches clear for a corner.

Terrific play from Shane Long who races onto a pretty harmless ball, putting Lindelof under pressure and winning a free kick for his side right on the edge of the box,

United quickly move the ball over to the left with Shaw combining neatly with Mkhitaryan before flinging an inviting ball across the face of goal that is just out of Rashford's reach.

Young neatly nutmegs Boufal and jinks past Hoedt down the right, with the Dutchman taking exception and fouls the wideman.

And here comes Marcus Rashford off the bench to replace the Belgian, continuing his record of having appeared in every match this season.

Lukaku is now being tentatively carried off the pitch to a standing ovation from around Old Trafford. Surely he will have no role to play against Everton on Monday.

Lukaku is conscious, but he has taken a serious bang here. United's medical staff are placing him onto the stretcher.

Looks like this will be the last we will see of Lukaku today; there is some serious concern for him and the stretcher is out.

There is a break in play so Lukaku can get some treatment; he's down after a clash of heads with Hoedt. Marcus Rashford is out to warm up in case.

De Gea produces another stunning save! United fall asleep down the left and Stephens can thread a ball through for Boufal who reaches the byline before cutting the ball back to James Ward-Prowse. The midfielder pings one towards the far corner but de Gea is down to push it away brilliantly.

What a chance for Lukaku! Pogba switches the ball with a perfect bass that Mata takes down with an equally perfect first touch. The Spaniard's cross in from the right isn't too bad either, picking out the Belgian in between the two Saints centre-halves but he can't keep his header down. Big chance missed.

Matic has to spring across to nick the ball away from Shane Long after a questionable ball across the back from Young and the Serbian is judged to have been fouled by the striker on is way. United free kick.

Southampton get us underway at Old Trafford.

Here we go then, both teams are on their way out from the tunnel; kick-off minutes away.

The big man is a bit tired, according to his manager, but he will be tasked with leading the line again tonight.

What a chance for Alex McCarthy tonight. The 28-year-old comes in to start in the Premier League for the first time since his arrival from Crystal Palace in 2016 with Fraser Forster dropped to the bench with his performances under more scrutiny than ever.

McCarthy is making his first appearance in the top flight since March 2016.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan meanwhile starts his first game in the league since the defeat to Chelsea at the beginning of November. The Armenia international looked bright when he came off the bench against Burnley on Boxing Day, has he done enough to convince Jose Mourinho he is deserving of another chance? It would seem so.

Luke Shaw starts back-to-back Premier League games for the first-time in 15 months this afternoon. It might be slightly enforced, with Antonio Valencia's absence forcing Ashley Young to continue on the right, but the former Southampton starlet has done nothing to damage his prospects in recent weeks.

Big news from Southampton; Fraser Forster is dropped with Alex McCarthy given his chance in goal. Ryan Bertrand Cedric Soares both miss out through injury as expected with Shane Long given the nod up front with Charlie Austin ruled out through suspension.

Jose Mourinho makes three changes to the side that rescued a draw against Burnley and the biggest news is that Henrik Mkhitaryan is back in the starting XI. He joins the attack to support Romelu Lukaku with Zlatan Ibrahimovic left out of the squad completely.

Luke Shaw continues at left-back.

Southampton team to face Manchester United: McCarthy, Stephens, Yoshida, Hoedt, McQueen, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Long

Subs: Forster, Pied, Bednarek, Davis, Lemina, Redmond, Gabbiadini

Manchester United team to face Southampton: De Gea, Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku

Subs: Romero, Blind, Rojo, Tuanzebe, Herrera, Martial, Rashford

BREAKING: Henrikh Mkhitaryan returns to the United starting XI with both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial named on the bench.

Jesse Lingard changed the game for United after coming off the bench against Burnley, scoring his eighth and ninth goals of the season to rescue a draw. Surely a recall is on the cards this evening?

Could Axel Tuanzebe be handed a chance in the absence of Antonio Valencia? The 20-year-old was promised first-team chances by his manager at the start of the month but he is still waiting. With Valencia and Matteo Darmian both out this evening, he will be hoping for a chance on the right, a position he impressed in during the back-end of last season amid another injury crisis.

Even when he has been getting on the score sheet, Romelu Lukaku has been looking visibly knackered in the latter stages of games in recent weeks. With Nemanja Matic and Antonio Valencia taking knocks in recent weeks, he is the only remaining ever-present outfield player in the Premier League for United this term. Jose Mourinho admits his striker needs a rest. But he won't get one yet.

No, I can't [give Lukaku a rest]. Now, I say 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes [for Romelu]. I think for a striker, for any player, [it] is absolutely incredible. But if you are central defender, if you are a holding midfield player, if you are in certain kinds of positions where you can control your energy and positional play a little bit more, you can resist and survive.

Out-of-form Southampton currently sit 14th and just two points above the relegation zone after seeing their winless league run extended to seven matches courtesy of a Harry Kane-inspired 5-2 drubbing by Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day. Mauricio Pellegrino remains without the suspended Charlie Austin with his problems worsened by the absences of first-choice full-backs Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand, who are ruled out with respective ankle and hamstring problems.

"Charlie, Cedric and Ryan are the players who will not be involved against Man United," Pellegrino said. "Maybe Ryan is the closest to a return."

Jose Mourinho was not giving much away on the injury front when he addressed the press, merely stating that none of his injured players would be ready to return against Southampton. With that in mind, we count Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Matteo Darmian as the injury absentees this evening.

Team news: Manchester United

Anthony Martial is a doubt for United this afternoon, despite being pictured in training a little earlier this week. The France international missed the draw with Burnley on Boxing Day with an unspecified knock and Jose Mourinho told reporters at a press conference on Friday that none of his injured players were ready to return this evening.

Romelu Lukaku will start this evening after Mourinho admitted he simply can't afford to rest the Belgium international at the moment. The United boss also suggested Zlatan Ibrahimovic won't start alongside the £75m signing – at least until he feels both are fully fit.