Next up...

By Chris O'Brien
February 14 2016

Manchester United are not in Premier League action until February 28th, following Saturday’s defeat at Sunderland – but Cup action in both Europe and domestically will provide a welcome distraction for the Red Devils.

Louis van Gaal’s men slumped to their seventh top-flight defeat of the season, with a disappointing display at the Stadium of Light.

Despite Anthony Martial's equaliser, goals from Wahbi Khazr and Lamine Kone handed the hosts a deserved lead, in front of 41,687 supporters.

The result has piled more pressure on van Gaal amid intense speculation that Jose Mourinho will take over the Old Trafford hot seat at the end of the season.

With any wafer thin hopes of a late title surge seemingly coming to an end in the North East, fulfilling United's stuttering Champions League qualification ambitions will now be van Gaal's ambition from a league perspective.

However, the Dutchman can push Premier League considerations to the back of his mind to a fortnight – and instead to three Cup outings that offer to inject some much-needed momentum into United’s season.

United's Europa League campaign kicks-off at FC Midtjylland on Thursday, in a two-legged contest against the Danish outfit which the Reds must win.

A first ever clash against Shrewsbury Town sandwiches the two Europa League fixtures – with van Gaal charged with ending United’s derisory record in the great Cup competition in recent times; which has seen Arsenal take over the mantle as the tournament’s most successful club.

Progression in both Cup competitions probably won't spare van Gaal his job come the summer months - but it will offer welcome tonic, and a timely boost, to the 2015/16 season.