United aiming for cold comfort

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United faces Zorya Luhansk on Thursday knowing that a draw in freezing Ukraine will propel it into the knockout stages of the Europa League.

The Premier League club is striving to go through in style with a victory, even if Europe's second-tier competition is not at the top of Mourinho's priorities in his first season in charge at Old Trafford.

United will also be eager to end a bout of frustrating draws, the latest being a 1-1 stalemate at Everton last Sunday when Mourinho's men conceded an 89th-minute equalizer from the penalty spot.