Glenn Hoddle believes that Manchester United still face a major challenge to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season due to their struggles in defence.

The Red Devils have won their last four matches to move into fourth place in the table, but the former England boss still feels that there is fragility about Louis van Gaal's side at the back, even when their first-choice defenders are fit and available.

Hoddle told the Daily Mail: "There is a growing assumption that United will now make the top four, which probably was the key target for the club after dipping to seventh place last season, an unprecedented low in the modern era.

"My feeling is that it will still be very much nip and tuck for them at the end of this campaign; that they may well make the cut but they will just squeeze over the line rather than make it comfortably.

"In defence of Van Gaal, you have to allow for the extraordinary injury list with which he has had to cope. Even if he had his first-choice back four, we all would have pointed to the defence as a potential weakness. Being denied his best players and with constant chopping and changing, it is hardly surprising they have struggled in that area."

United take on third-place Southampton in their 15th top-flight match of the campaign at St Mary's Stadium on Monday.