After dropping two points against Arch rivals Leeds United and see Aston Villa their game and go on top of the premier league, Manchester United were desperate to get back to the winning ways and bring Villa back to second place. And they got a huge boost as their talisman Eric Cantona was back in contention to start against Southampton. The French ace missed United’s FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Sheffield United because he was on international duty with France in Israel.
He scored for his country but Manchester United missed him dearly as they were knocked out of the cup. Now that he was back he was set to come in the starting eleven and partner Mark Hughes up front with Ryan Giggs switching to the left-wing.