Newcastle United look to reignite their top-seven ambitions as they meet Manchester United in a tricky Premier League clash.
Victory could lift Newcastle as high as tenth as long as results elsewhere swing in their favour, whilst Man Utd stay third with a win.
Team News
Newcastle have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-2 loss at home to Everton, but Nick Woltemade is a doubt due to illness.
Emil Krafth, Lewis Miley (both knee), Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento (both hamstring) and Fabian Schar (ankle) remain absent.
Man Utd could be without Luke Shaw after he was substituted in the first half of their eventual 2-1 comeback against Crystal Palace due to illness.
Harry Maguire (illness) and Lisandro Martinez (calf) are also doubts for selection.
Mason Mount (knock), Patrick Dorgu (hamstring) and Matthijs De Ligt (back) are still ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle face Man Utd at St James’ Park on Wednesday 4 March at 8:15pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have avoided defeat in six of their last eight league meetings against Man Utd (W4, D2, L2).
- Man Utd have won one of their last six visits to Newcastle (W1, D1, L4).
- Newcastle have kept clean sheets in two of their last three home matches against Man Utd (W3).
- Eddie Howe’s Magpies have played out 3-2 results in each of their last three home games in all competitions, of which they lost two of those games which both came in the Premier League.
- Benjamin Sesko has scored in each of Man Utd’s last three matches (W2, D1).
Prediction
Although Newcastle are still producing goals at home across all competitions, they have lost their last three domestic home fixtures which has pretty much ruled out any chance of a top-six finish, so they need to be more consistent if want seventh and a potential UEFA Conference League spot.
Howe’s Magpies however are still in the FA Cup and Champions League so you have to wonder if they might be wise to try and place more priority on both cup competitions, although they’re only seven points off seventh in the league so that path is still doable if they improve and results elsewhere go in their favour.
Man Utd meanwhile started sluggishly against Palace and were deservedly punished before they dominated much of the match from the 25th minute onwards and maximised a second-half man advantage, which has put them up to third so this is a chance to just keep building that momentum.
St James’ Park though hasn’t exactly been kind to Man Utd in the last six seasons but on current form, they have a strong chance of picking up the win but Newcastle will definitely give them a good test.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Man Utd
Result: Newcastle 2-1 Man Utd