Newcastle dealt unexpected blow for Man Utd clash, it could have big impact on upcoming clash

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Sunday sees Ruben Amorim face off against Newcastle for the second time as Manchester United boss.

There has been a lot of change since Newcastle came to Old Trafford back in December, beating a record-breakingly bad Manchester United side 2-0.

It was a bad night for all involved, but especially for Joshua Zirkzee, who was hooked in the first half and cheered off by United fans.

Since then, Zirkzee has gone from zero to hero at United. Thursday night saw Zirkzee reach new heights at United against Lyon, and his improvements have gone hand in hand with the general progress Amorim’s side has made.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have won the Carabao Cup and now goes on in search of Champions League football in the league.

This Sunday, hostilities will be restored between the two sides, but there is one major unexpected difference.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Eddie Howe ruled out of Manchester United vs Newcastle

One of the big reasons behind Newcastle going from relegation fodder to bonafide European contenders was not only the Saudi Arabian takeover but also the appointment of manager Eddie Howe.

The 47-year-old often got the better of Erik ten Hag, besides that 2023 clash at Wembley, and would have been looking forward to taking on the improving United.

But now Newcastle have confirmed that he will be absent from the game due to illness, sharing the following statement on X.

“Eddie Howe will miss tomorrow’s game against Manchester United due to illness.

“The Magpies’ head coach was admitted to hospital late on Friday evening having felt unwell for a number of days.

“Everyone at Newcastle United extends their best wishes to Eddie for a speedy recovery, and further updates will follow in due course.”

We hope Howe gets well soon, with Newcastle set to be led by Jason Tindall in his absence, which will be a massive blow for the Magpies.

What is Jason Tindall’s record as a manager?

Nothing will change for United in terms of preparation, with Tindall likely to play the system and team that Howe will have pencilled in this week before his illness took over.

In his career, Tindall has been a manager for 31 games at Bournemouth. He was appointed in August 2020 and was then removed in February 2021.

In this spell, Tindall was managing in the Championship and had an okay record, leaving much to be desired and is a sign that United may benefit from him being across from Amorim in the dugout.

It is undeniably a blow for Newcastle, and everyone wishes Howe all the best, but in terms of the game of football, it is a boost for United as much as it is a blow for the home side. Howe is an excellent man-manager, with his personality being a big part of his quality as a head coach.