Dan Kerins
Assistant Editor, BBC South

Southampton are giving all fans a free red-and-white flag at St Mary's tonight for the match against Inter Milan.

Who's against modern football now?

Image source, PA

You plan all week to unpick your opponents - then all that preparation is ruined by them sacking their manager.

That's the problem facing Southampton after tonight's opponents Inter Milan told Dutch gaffer Frank de Boer to clear his desk on Tuesday.

Youth team coach Stefano Vecchi taking charge isn't going to change the Nerazzurri overnight though is it?

"We don't know what to expect from Inter now," says Saints boss Claude Puel. "We now have to show more concentration."

Saints are second in Group K with four points from three games, two points behind leaders Sparta Prague. Inter meanwhile are bottom with three points...  

As ever, the Thursday night Europa League fixture list is as long as the list you take to the supermarket for the monthly big shop. 

There's 24 games taking place, with Manchester United's Premier League rivals Southampton facing Inter Milan at St Mary's at 20:05 GMT. 

Ever found yourself shunned from the first team only to make a glorious comeback? Or what about a player for your team that was seemingly on his way out of the door, only to turn it around.

Tell us about it via #bbcfootball, text in on 81111 (UK only) or post a comment on the Match of the Day Facebook page.

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"Bastian is back."

That's what Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday after Bastian Schweinsteiger made a surprise return to training on Monday.

The former Germany captain had been left out of Mourinho's senior group since the Portuguese coach took over in the summer.

"Looking at Bastian and the way he is working professionally every day with the fitness coach we think it’s a human decision, a professional decision, to bring him back to the team," said Mourinho.

Schweinsteiger isn't in Turkey because he is ineligible for Manchester United's Europa League squad, but could be back in the fold for the Premier League.

If he does force his way back into the side, up there with Robbie Williams rejoining Take That as one of the great comebacks?

Image source, .

Win tonight and Manchester United will take a huge step towards securing qualification for the knockout stage of the Europa League. They could go top of Group A if Feyenoord fail to beat bottom-of-the-table Zorya.

Wayne Rooney starts for Manchester United while Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Phil Jones, who has recovered from a knee injury, are on the bench.

A couple of years ago, Jose Mourinho would probably have scoffed at the idea of wanting to do well in the Europa League. This is, after all - the man who dismissed the season Rafael Benitez won the competition back in 2013 as a year Chelsea were 'not successful in Europe'

Now, though, Mourinho has changed his tune. 

With Manchester United eighth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-place Chelsea, winning the Europa League is looking an increasingly realistic way of securing Champions League football next season.

They may be without a win in five league games but their form in Europe has been better. Tonight they face Fenerbache and a third successive victory could put them top of Group A.

Sent to the stands during a goalless draw with Burnley...

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...hit with an FA charge...

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...and another...

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...It's not been the best of weeks for Jose Mourinho, but maybe the Europa League could be the competition to put a smile on the Manchester United manager's face...