Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident that Manchester United are equipped to break into the top four ahead of schedule and flourish in their tough-looking February fixtures.
The Norwegian hit a first bump in the road since becoming caretaker manager as Burnley visited on Tuesday, with a late comeback required to seal a 2-2 home draw as his eight-match winning start to life at the Old Trafford helm came to an end.
That run means Solskjaer’s side enter the weekend just two points off the Champions League qualification places – quite the turnaround considering they were 11 points off the pace when he succeeded Jose Mourinho in December.
“I feel it’s very (well) equipped,” Solskjaer said of the squad’s strength heading into February.
“We’ve had now six weeks together. We’ve found out what strengths, weaknesses we’ve got.
“It’s not too many games, there’s still a week between every single one of them but it’s tough opposition. Definitely.
“You start with this game against Leicester, Fulham away as well is also a tough one.
“I’ve got a big squad, it’s only Marcos Rojo now who’s out for a period, the rest are fit and available.”
Solskjaer expects Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba to be fit for the trip to the King Power Stadium after the former missed the Burnley match through injury and the latter was seen limping away from Old Trafford.
The Foxes saw their FA Cup embarrassment at Newport compounded by losses to Southampton and Wolves, only to end that run of defeats by holding leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Wednesday.
“They beat Chelsea,” Solskjaer said of Leicester, who also defeated Manchester City on Boxing Day.
“I watched the game on Wednesday night and it’s a team full of energy, pace, they defend well.
“They drop back and defend so it’s hard to break them down and then they’ve got the pace up front with (Jamie) Vardy, (Demarai) Gray, (James) Maddison, (Marc) Albrighton, so it’s going be a tough challenge – but we like challenges.”
