Manchester United return to European competition on Thursday night, hosting St. Etienne at Old Trafford in the Europa League Round of 32.

It's an important fixture but one that comes in the middle of a heavy schedule for Jose Mourinho's side. They're fighting the good fight in four competitions and before they return to Premier League action they'll play in this tournament, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup final.

Winning silverware in Mourinho's first season would be a great achievement for the Portuguese tactician and show supporters they are on the right track, especially if they can couple it with a top-four finish in the league.

That top-four finish is critical given it provides Champions League action but remember, so does winning the Europa League. That makes Thursday's match against the French outfit critical and not one the Red Devils can take for granted.

Here are THREE tactical tweaks Mourinho must make for the Round of 32 clash...

Squad rotation

Jose Mourinho has a very talented squad at his disposal and given the nature of the heavy schedule, he should consider bringing in some fringe players for the clash on Thursday night.

While Sunday's game in the FA Cup is against lower league opposition, it is away from home, which immediately makes it a tricky proposition.

Saint-Etienne are no mugs themselves but travelling to Old Trafford will be a tall order for them and Mourinho can likely bring in the likes of Marouane Fellaini from the start.

Rashford through the middle

There's definitely an argument that Zlatan Ibrahimovic should play on Thursday night but his game is much more suited to the physical battle on Sunday so if Mourinho has to pick between which tie to deploy the Swedish legend in then that's the one for us.

Against Saint-Etienne, Mourinho can call on the talents of Marcus Rashford who needs more game time as a striker through the middle, leading the line, anyway. We saw against Reading just how effective that can be, with the teenager notching up a superb double.

He can of course play on the left or right too, but giving him the responsibility to lead the attack alongside the likes of Anthony Martial would be an intriguing prospect for the Old Trafford faithful.

Pogba further forward

Manchester United are likely to have the vast majority of possession on Thursday night and that should allow Paul Pogba to play a more advanced role in the United midfield, behind whichever striker Mourinho opts to go with.

In this scenario, a midfield partnership of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Hererra could provide the defensive steel needed in the middle of the park.

We've seen on countless occasions this season that Pogba is at his best when parked in front of the opposition defensive line, looking for the key pass to runners around him and in behind the defence.

The Frenchman is in wonderful form right now and harnessing the best of his game in the attacking areas could provide real punishment for the visitors.