Newcastle face Manchester United this weekend, on the back of one of the worst performances in their recent Premier League history last week at Leicester.
Fans will hope for a clear response from Steve Bruce’s players, and even though they face a game against one of the ‘big six’ sides, it could be a good time to face the Red Devils.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are claimed to be struggling, and in a bit of a crisis themselves, but if that is deemed a crisis, goodness knows what that makes Newcastle’s position!
Certainly it looks like a game that neither manager can afford to lose, with both job’s looking precarious. And with the international break following, it will be a long couple of weeks for whichever team loses.
Early team news
The game has reportedly come too soon for Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie, and it seems more likely he will be available for the game away at Chelsea in a couple of weeks.
Dwight Gayle is back to full training, and Jetro Willems should also be available again, after missing last weeks horror show.
DeAndre Yedlin could be in line for a recall too, as Emil Krafth’s struggles continue.
The visitors are set to be without their talisman Paul Pogba due to a foot injury.
Eric Bailly is a long-term absentee, while Phil Jones and Anthony Martial are also unlikely to feature.
Referee: Mike Dean
The Wirral official takes charge of his seventh Premier League game of the season – his second game involving both Newcastle and Manchester United.
He has so far brandished 23 yellow cards, sent two players off for second bookable offences, and awarded two penalties.
He refereed Newcastle in three Premier League games last season, and during those games, and his one this term, he booked nine Newcastle players and 12 for the opposition. He sent off DeAndre Yedlin for a professional foul against Wolves last season, and awarded one penalty – for Bournemouth in the 2-2 draw.
Points to prove
The whole Newcastle team should be out to show the capitulation at Leicester is not repeated, and even if they do not win the game on Sunday, they can at least show some fight, which was sadly missing last weekend.
Bruce too has a lot to do to show fans he is the right person for the job at Newcastle. His team selection and change of formation last weekend were both disastrous, and he cannot afford a repeat against Manchester United.
His lineup will be crucial, and I will be amazed if he does not find a place for Allan Saint-Maximin on Sunday. Although, I said the same thing last week too!
Like his opposite number in the home dugout, Soskjaer needs to show fans that he was the right appointment at Old Trafford.
After his initial honeymoon period, his fortunes have taken a nosedive since he was given the role permanently. He will be wanting to right the ship at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Likely formations
Bruce will almost certainly revert to his five at the back formation, while fans will be hoping it is Yedlin and Willems who get the nod at wing-back.
The 4-4-2 did not work at all against Leicester, but despite a return to the previous tactics, the head coach simply must find a way to get more support to Joelinton at the top end of the pitch.
Solskjaer likes to play with a 4-2-3-1 lineup, using Marcus Rashford as a lone striker, but ensuring that the impresive Daniel James, Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira get up in support of him as much as possible.
Against a struggling Newcastle, who continually fail to dominate possession, there seems little chance of him changing things for this fixture.
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