Newcastle United’s relentless run of fixtures continues as they host Manchester United next at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s side go into the clash off the back of three straight defeats which have yielded 11 goals.
Despite taking a shock lead at Anfield on Thursday, the Magpies have been put to the sword by Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City.
If the match on Tyneside goes ahead on 27 December, it will be Manchester United’s first outing for 16 days, following the postponements against Brentford and Brighton.
Playing against the league’s leakiest defence which have conceded 41 goals from 18 games, Ralf Rangnick’s side will be hoping to pile the misery on Howe’s beleaguered men.
The former Bournemouth manager will definitely be without the suspended Isaac Hayden who picked up his fifth Premier League booking of the season, in the 4-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side yesterday.
The 26-year-old started both games against Liverpool and City after only playing a combined 18 minutes in Howe’s first five games as Magpies boss.
The former Arsenal man scored the last goal of the pre-Eddie Howe era, which came in the 1-1 draw at Brighton, with Howe watching on in the stands.
Hayden has started 12 Premier League games so far this season, but the midfielder had the unenviable task of playing at centre back for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Old Trafford homecoming back in September.
Ronaldo scored two that day and for his second he breezed past Hayden like he wasn’t there before smashing a left-footed strike through Freddie Woodman’s legs to blow the roof of Old Trafford.
United went on to 4-1 win that day and on current form, Howe will be worried that another hammering could be on the cards for his relegation threatened side.
- Youri Tielemans’ past injuries and age cannot overshadow immediate solution solved in Man Utd’s post-Casemiro era
- I was desperate for Man United to sign Eduardo Camavinga, but his latest Real Madrid decision is a worry
- Joshua Zirkzee’s stance on Juventus move could fast-track Man Utd exit
- Danilo has already learned two important skills from Casemiro amid rumblings he could move to Man Utd
- Man Utd may immediately repeat their successful Youri Tielemans ‘trick’ with their next midfield signing
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
