MAREK Saganowski returns to St Mary’s this week sweating on a THIRD outing against Manchester United this season.

The 30-year-old Polish striker is the highest profile player returning to Saints for the start of 2009 after Danish club Aalborg showed no interest in keeping him.

During his half-season loan to the reigning Danish champions, Saganowski scored five goals in 24 league and cup matches.

Of those, three came in 13 league appearances.

He played in all six of his club’s European Champions’ League group matches, of which two were against Sir Alex Ferguson’s world champions and two against Gordon Strachan’s Celtic.

Saganowski struck once in the Champions League, in a 6-3 defeat in Spain against Villareal.

His last match for Aalborg was the 2-2 CL draw at Old Trafford earlier this month. Back in September, he was among the Aalborg side that lost 3-0 at home to Fergie’s men.

Full story in today's Daily Echo.