Ole Gunnar Solskjær speaks.
As a precaution we have isolated some of the coaching staff. So Nicky [Butt] and Mark [Dempsey] are in with me. Hopefully Thursday, maybe Sunday for Cavani. Danny [James] played really well against Sociedad. Dan has worked very hard. Scott [McTominay] as well is injured. He hurt his ankle. Nemanja [Matic] has played many games. We’ve cut the squad a little bit and the kids get a chance and we hope we can give them some experience. I really locale like them since Graeme [Jones] came in. They will come to give us a good game.
PA Media’s take on that team news.
Manchester United have made five changes from Real Sociedad. David de Gea, Victor Lindelöf, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial came into the starting line-up, while Newcastle-born 17-year-old Shola Shoretire joined fellow teenager Amad Diallo on the bench. Scott McTominay, Donny Van De Beek and Edinson Cavani missed out through injury against the Magpies, who brought Joelinton in for Dwight Gayle.
Speculation that De Gea would be replaced by Dean Henderson seems to have been dismissed. Shola Shoretire, a defender, is very highly rated among United’s youth coaches.
Key stat of the night, though I’ve heard two different stories.
Richard Jolly
(@RichJolly)Shola Shoretire is the first player who was born after Bob Monkhouse died to be on the bench for Manchester United in a Premier League game.
One change for Newcastle from Monday’s defeat at Chelsea as Joelinton replaces Dwight Gayle.
Two Manchester United changes to the side that drew 1-1 with West Brom. Nemanja Matic and Dan James replace Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani, neither of whom make the bench, on which January signing Amad Diallo is named.
Here are the teams
Manchester United: de Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Matic, James, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: Bailly, Mata, Greenwood, Diallo, Henderson, Alex Telles, Williams, Tuanzebe, Shoretire.
Newcastle: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Willock, Hayden, Shelvey, Almiron, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin.
Subs: Dubravka, Dummett, Carroll, Ritchie, Gayle, Hendrick, Fraser, Murphy, Sean Longstaff.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Updated
at 1.03pm EST
Preamble
Steve Bruce loved his time at Manchester United, and the fans loved him. He scored 51 goals for the club as a hulking central defender. He’s also been an opponent his old club have long enjoyed facing. Last season saw him break his duck, when Matty Longstaff’s goal for Newcastle was a first win over his old club in 25 attempts, but that was followed up by two 4-1 defeats. That Bruce is still in charge of Newcastle rankles with plenty of the club’s followers, with just two wins picked up in 2021, and the rest defeats. But without those two wins from the last four, defeats of Everton and Southampton, they would be in the drop zone. And Fulham’s defeat of Sheffield United last night meant there are just three points separating Newcastle from the bottom three. Manchester United start the match in third, having slipped somewhat in recent weeks, with draws against Everton and West Brom both poor performances. Perhaps Thursday’s destruction of Real Sociedad might have lifted spirits though it might also tire them out. Time then for Brucey to be brave at his old stamping ground, where the fake crowd are bound to receive him warmly.
Kick-off at 7pm UK time. Join me.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 25 | 35 | 59 |
| 2 | Leicester | 25 | 17 | 49 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 24 | 19 | 46 |
| 4 | West Ham | 25 | 10 | 45 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 25 | 16 | 43 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 25 | 11 | 40 |
| 7 | Everton | 24 | 4 | 40 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 23 | 11 | 36 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 24 | 10 | 36 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 25 | 5 | 34 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton | 25 | -6 | 33 |
| 12 | Leeds | 24 | -3 | 32 |
| 13 | Southampton | 24 | -9 | 30 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 24 | -15 | 29 |
| 15 | Burnley | 25 | -12 | 28 |
| 16 | Brighton | 24 | -5 | 26 |
| 17 | Newcastle | 24 | -15 | 25 |
| 18 | Fulham | 25 | -11 | 22 |
| 19 | West Brom | 25 | -36 | 14 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 25 | -26 | 11 |
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