With their space above 18th-place Fulham shrinking, Newcastle United struggled on Monday in their 2-0 loss vs. Chelsea. Now, Steve Bruce will look for only his second managerial victory vs. Manchester United, the club he captained for years as a player.
Player to Watch
Newcastle United: Jamaal Lascelles
The rumors of holding players accountable in the dressing room are nice to hear, but Newcastle’s captain needs to step up on the pitch. Newcastle have exactly one clean sheet in their ten matches since 2021 began and Lascelles needs to help his backline lock in and blank Man Utd.
Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes
As Bruno goes, Manchester United goes. He has 14 goals and nine assists in the Premier League and is one of the top performers in England this season. In Man Utd’s four matches in February, Fernandes has scored five goals (two on Thursday in the Europa League) and has two assists.
NUFC Availability Update
Steve Bruce revealed that Federico Fernandez is finally back in training, but that he won’t be ready to go tomorrow vs. United. He also indicated that Javier Manquillo’s injury has responded well to treatment.
Keys to Victory for Newcastle United
- An improved presence in the midfield. Against Chelsea, Newcastle’s midfielders failed to control the match and that put the Magpies at a major disadvantage. Tomorrow, without Paul Pogba opposite them, the NUFC players need to establish themselves in the middle of the park.
- A lucky break. When it comes to securing an upset, sometimes it helps to be more lucky than good. When these clubs met earlier this season, Newcastle got on the board first with an own goal from Luke Shaw. Getting a gift of a goal like that or some a big miss or two from Man Utd could prove vital for Newcastle.
- A spark from the striker. Dwight Gayle was a spectator for most of the Chelsea match as he replaced the injured Callum Wilson in the starting XI. Whether he starts or Joelinton or even Andy Carroll, Newcastle need a contribution from their target forward to pick up a result. The trio of Carroll, Gayle, and Joelinton have combined for only three goals in the EPL this season.