Man Utd (A) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
The hectic schedule continues for Newcastle United, as Manchester United stand in our way of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
With our depleted squad showing real signs of fatigue in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Wolves, Eddie Howe has rallied those fit and available to "step up" and "give a bit more" to get us through this tricky period, with a Premier League clash with Arsenal and trip to Dortmund a week today set to follow tomorrow's meeting at Old Trafford.
Rotation is needed, but injuries leave Howe with a tricky decision. Does he stick with a side running on empty or utilise what's left of the squad; meaning a few youngsters or rarely-used fringe men will come into the side?
As for Man Utd, they looked abysmal in Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Man City. Ten Hag cancelled his pre-match press conference today and will be under serious pressure if they suffer another loss here. This feels like a huge chance to get revenge on the cup final defeat last season, even if we go into the game battered, bruised and missing several key players.
Team news
It looks like we'll be missing EIGHT first-team players, with Alexander Isak (groin), Jacob Murphy (dislocated shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back), Sven Botman (knee), Sandro Tonali (suspension) Lewis Miley (glandular fever), Harvey Barnes (foot) and Javier Manquillo (groin) all ruled out.
Rotation is likely - especially when a much-changed side beat Man City in the last round - but our options are limited given the long injury list. The likes of Livramento, Hall, Targett, Dummett, Willock and Dubravka will all be pushing for starts.
For the hosts, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez remain out, with Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka facing late fitness tests after missing the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Livramento, Lascelles, Dummett, Targett – Longstaff, Bruno, Willock – Almiron, Gordon, Joelinton.
OUT: Trippier, Schar, Burn, Wilson? IN: Livramento, Dummett, Targett, Willock?
Starting at the back, Trippier looked in need of a rest on Saturday, Schar must be protected with Botman facing an extended spell on the sidelines and Burn is another who looked shattered at the weekend. Aside from that, this is the same back five that were superb in keeping a clean sheet against Man City in the last round.
In midfield, our options to rotate are so limited with Tonali, Anderson and Miley all out. Howe may opt against starting Willock, but he's come through two cameos now and could be dangerous against a slow Man Utd midfield. Hall started in the last round and could well come off the bench after an hour, or so.
Ideally, we'd be in a position to rest Bruno and/or Joelinton, but we may need the latter to play out wide if Gordon starts as a false nine. I can't see Wilson playing four times in just over a week - he's another who needs protecting while Isak is out - and Howe has often talked up Gordon's ability to act as an emergency striker after impressing in this role for England's U21s over the summer.
Prediction
We looked leggy on Saturday and don't have the luxury of rotating much at all in certain areas, so it's tough to say how we'll cope and difficult to know what sort of performance we'll be capable of delivering at Old Trafford.
Man Utd looked shot for confidence and so downbeat in that pathetic display against Man City. Ten Hag will be demanding a response and it won't take much for their fans to turn. With 7,000 Geordies making the trip, it could be huge if we made a fast start and put an already struggling Man Utd side under more pressure.
I see this being a scrappy game that goes the distance, a little like last weekend. With Pope the better of the two keepers, I'll go for us winning the shootout at the end of a score draw!
NUFC Blog prediction: Man Utd 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle to win on penalties!)
HWTL!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzUPIJyEjqA&ab_channel=NewcastleUnited
