Newcastle demolition job shows size of gulf that has opened over Manchester United - Iqraa news

Newcastle vs Man Utd: Guimarães goal compounds dismal second half by visitors

Bruno Guimarães put the seal on an impressive second half by Newcastle - Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt

Newcastle United used to bring out a DVD to celebrate victories like this over Manchester United, now they just laugh and mock how bad their old nemesis has become.

That is because Newcastle are a much better team than United. It is that simple. Stronger in every department, better led, better coached and far too good to be worried by them. This was all the evidence you needed.

There was a time when United enjoyed their trips to St James’ Park, silencing the crowd, outplaying their hosts and crushing Newcastle’s spirit with their power, pace and skill

That was then, this is now. While United are a club living in the past, Newcastle are thriving in the present.

Under Eddie Howe, few teams have done more to shatter those old illusions of grandeur than Newcastle and this was a rout; a fresh low for the visitors.

They outclassed Ruben Amorim’s side and by the end, were toying with them, while the home crowd – still stung by those painful memories of the past – bayed for blood. Times have changed and none of them reflect well on the red men from Manchester.

Dismal Man Utd humbled by ruthless Newcastle

Ruben Amorim’s season rests on the Europa League on Thursday - Getty Images/George Wood

There was a pre-match tribute to Kevin Keegan from the home fans, a flag display to celebrate a man who did so much to transform the club, first as a player in the 80s and then as a manager in the 90s.

But as good as his Newcastle team were, as fun as they were to watch, they very rarely got the better of United. When they won 5-0 at St James’ Park in 1996, the release of a DVD to commemorate the occasion was a bit of fun, but the Manchester team shrugged off the result and kept on winning silverware.

Nobody will be shrugging after this. Amorim, predictably spoke about needing to rotate and rest players ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Lyon, a win-or-bust fixture for the Portuguese in his first season.

He said he “did not care about criticism” of the performance because the pain of the defeat was all that mattered, but that does not do enough to excuse his team being this woeful again.

The lack of quality was there, but so too was a lack of resilience and fight. It is hard to identify what improvements he has overseen since he arrived back in November. He inherited a mess and will be given more time to clear it up, but a rotten stench lingers at Old Trafford and he does not have any air freshener.

United have lost 14 games in the league, are entrenched in the bottom half of the table and very little seems to have improved since he replaced Erik ten Hag, either in terms of individual players he is coaching or as a collective.

As for Newcastle, they have been improving for more than three years under Howe and if Keegan came close to glory, at least daring the club to dream again, Howe’s side should be regarded as a superior manifestation of the team he tried to be.

Not only have they won the Carabao Cup this season, ending a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, Howe’s vintage are closing in on Champions League qualification for the second time in three years.

Newcastle have won 11 out of their past 16 games in all competitions, five on the spin and moved up to fourth in the table with this comprehensive victory, one point behind Nottingham Forest with a game in hand.

Newcastle were probably the better team in the first half but the lead given to them by Sandro Tonali was cancelled out by a breakaway from Alejandro Garnacho.

In the second half, the visitors’ fight and resistance evaporated as Harvey Barnes scored twice and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir – called up to replace the gaff-prone André Onana – passed the ball straight to Bruno Guimarães to add a gift-wrapped fourth. Onana has had plenty of criticism, but will surely return to the starting XI against Lyon after this.

Newcastle were excellent, everything they aspire to be under Howe, even though he was not there inside the stadium and remains in hospital with an illness. He is not expected to be back at work for several days and will almost certainly miss the home game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, with his assistant Jason Tindall poised to take charge of the team again.

“I’m super proud of the players, to deliver a performance like that,” said Tindall. “We spoke before the game about producing a performance the manager would be proud of. It has been a strange few days and when the manager isn’t there, your leader isn’t there, you need people to step up. That is what they have done today. I’ve had a message from him after the game, he managed to watch the game and he has sent his congratulations to the players and myself.

“I did miss him. This is only the second time in 17 years we haven’t stood on the touchline together, but I’m sure this performance has put a smile on his face.”


07:01 PM BST

Bruno Fernandes’s reaction

We’re not stupid – we know the position we’re in. It’s easy to criticise because this club has not suffered like this in a long time.

Thursday is big to get into the semi-finals, that’s all. We need to create a big atmosphere. It’s time for us to give something back to the fans, who have been so supportive of us and they were again today.

It could be that people think differently but we always try. I get frustrated because I know we are much better than we have been. I only get frustrated with my teammates because I know how good they are.

In tough moment in the past we have produced great performances against great teams. We need to that again. Lyon are a big team with a big history in European competitions. But we are Man United and we need to step up.

Bruno Fernandes applauds the away fans after the game.

Bruno Fernandes applauds the away fans after the game. - Scott Heppell/Reuters


06:56 PM BST

Roy Keane’s verdict on Man Utd


06:52 PM BST

Ruben Amorim’s reaction

He looked pretty irritable, more so than at any time since he came to the club.

They were stronger in the second balls, they were the better team. But we made a lot of mistakes which makes it really hard to win against a top team like Newcastle.

It’s a little bit of everything – it’s hard to point to one thing that is going wrong. We can do a lot better. Let’s concentrate on Thursday, which is very important for us. We cannot make the same mistakes on Thursday.

I understand the criticism. I don’t care what people say – losing games is the hardest thing by far in this job. I don’t want to defend myself because our position in the table says it all.

Let’s concentrate on Thursday. It’s a new game - we need to give something to our fans.


06:41 PM BST

Newcastle reaction

Bruno Guimaraes

When we went on the pitch we said, ‘We’re playing for [Eddie Howe]’. We miss hm and we hope this will give  him a little bit of happiness after a tough week. We hope he’ll be back for the next game.

[On Harvey Barnes] He’s an unbelievable professional and an unbelievable player.

It was unbelievable to win the cup, but we want more. We want to play Champions League football and we want to make history.

Harvey Barnes

I’m enjoying my football. I feel like I’m in a really good rhythm; long may it continue.

I thought we dominated the first half. We knew we needed to build on that, and that the chances would come. It was a good win and a good scoreline.


06:23 PM BST

Full time: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Newcastle’s march towards the Champions League football continues with a crushing victory over Manchester United. The first half was even but Newcastle were rampant in the second, scoring three unanswered goals and overrunning a fragile Man Utd side.

In mid-December Newcastle were 12th in the Premier League and had two huge obstacles to overcome in the Carabao Cup; now they are on course their best season in decades.

Newcastle celebrate Harvey Barnes' second goal.

Newcastle celebrate Harvey Barnes’ second goal. - Serena Taylor/Newcastle United


06:22 PM BST

90+4 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Hojlund carries the ball 50 yards and hits a shot that deflects behind off Schar.

Rasmus Hojlund's body language speaks volumes.

Rasmus Hojlund’s body language speaks volumes. - George Wood/Getty Images


06:18 PM BST

90 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Shaw’s cross is headed well wide by Hojlund, who made a fine run across Burn but didn’t time the flick of his head.

Five minutes of added time.


06:15 PM BST

87 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

The last time Newcastle did the league double over Manchester United was in the 1930-31 season. It’s been utterly emphatic, and a combined score of 6-1 doesn’t flatter them.


06:13 PM BST

85 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Double substitution for Newcastle Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, who is engaged in a slanging match with Ugarte as he leaves the field, are replaced by Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff.

Joelinton makes his point.

Joelinton makes his point. - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP


06:11 PM BST

84 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Newcastle have now won 12 of their last 16 Premier League games, which isn’t far off Championship form. Their intensity and quality has been far too much for Man Utd in the second half.

Bruno Guimaraes celebrates his goal.

Bruno Guimaraes celebrates his goal. - Stu Forster/Getty Images


06:09 PM BST

81 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Man Utd substitution Kobbie Mainoo replaces Bruno Fernandes, who might as well get an extra 10 minutes’ rest ahead of Thursday’s game against Lyon.


06:07 PM BST

79 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Man Utd substitution Luke Shaw replaces Mazraroui; this is his first appearance since 1 December. He’ll play as the left centre-back with Yoro moving across to the right.


06:06 PM BST

79 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1

Triple substitution for Newcastle Anthony Gordon, Emil Krafth and Callum Wilson replace Barnes, Trippier and Isak.


06:05 PM BST

Goal

77 min: Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1 (Guimaraes) A howler from Altay Bayindir gives Newcastle their fourth goal. He played a terrible pass straight to Joelinton, who headed it deftly towards to the unmarked Guimaraes on the edge of the area. He had all the time in the world to compose himself and slide the ball into the net.


06:03 PM BST

75 min: Newcastle 3 Man Utd 1

Ugarte’s long-rnage shot is comfortably saved by Pope. I think that’s his first save of the half.


06:01 PM BST

74 min: Newcastle 3 Man Utd 1


05:58 PM BST

71 min: Newcastle 3 Man Utd 1

Barnes scurries away from Mazraoui, who recovers excellently to get back and block Barnes’ eventual cross-shot. Newcastle are in complete control of this game.

Ruben Amorim's team have been overrun in the second half.

Ruben Amorim’s team have been overrun in the second half. - Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters


05:56 PM BST

69 min: Newcastle 3 Man Utd 1

The Newcastle supporters are singing ‘Barnes will tear you apart again’ and he has just run straight through the middle of Manchester United.

A costly slip from Noussair Mazraoui presented the winger with the ball and from there he just ran past Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro before applying the perfect finish into the top corner as they belatedly tried to close the gaping hole he had run through.

Newcastle have been by far the better side since half time and Amorim’s side are showing their soft side again.

Harvey Barnes gives Altay Bayindir no chance.

Harvey Barnes gives Altay Bayindir no chance. - Owen Humphreys/PA


05:55 PM BST

67 min: Newcastle 3 Man Utd 1

This result will take Newcastle fourth - and with a game in hand against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Win that and they’ll go above Nottingham Forest into third.


05:51 PM BST

Goal!

64 min: Newcastle 3 Man Utd 1 (Barnes) Harvey Barnes makes it three with a superb individual goal! He harassed Mazraoui, who lost his footing 35 yards from his own goal. That allowed Barnes to collect the ball and vroom straight at the heart of the United defence. Nobody could keep up with him - it looked like Barnes was on fast-forward - and he beat Bayindir emphatically from 15 yards. Superb goal.


05:50 PM BST

61 min: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1

Murphy’s cross is headed over by Burn, who leapt as high as possible but couldn’t quite get over the ball.


05:48 PM BST

60 min: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1

It’s been a scruffy few minutes since that injury break, best exemplified by Trippier running into Fernandes and going straight up in the air.


05:45 PM BST

57 min: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1

Watching that coming together between Tonali and Dalot inside the area it looked like a penalty in real time but replays showed the Manchester United player was waiting for the contact and was falling as the Italian ran into him. Referee Chris Kavanagh immediately signalled it was not a foul and VAR were never going to intervene.

Moments later, Dalot is sent to the shops by some lovely skill from Livramento and when his cross reaches the far post, Murphy does really well to put it back across goal for Harvey Barnes to smash home. Barnes has had a quiet game but pops up with goals at crucial moments and has another - his seventh of the season. And what about Murphy, that is his eighth assist of the season. He is having the campaign of his life.

Harvey Barnes makes it 2-1.

Harvey Barnes makes it 2-1. - Stu Forster/Getty Images


05:43 PM BST

55 min: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1

Triple change for Man Utd Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu replace Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho and Harry Amass, who can be pleased with his debut in a very tough away game.

Joshua Zirkzee is helped from the field.

Joshua Zirkzee is helped from the field. - Owen Humphreys/PA


05:41 PM BST

53 min: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1

Zirkzee injured This is a blow for United, especially with the Lyon game in mind. Joshua Zirkzee, who has played well today, goes on a winding 50-yard run only to pull up holding his hamstring. His match is over, possibly even his season because it looks quiet a bad one. He’s being helped from the field by the physio and Bruno Fernandes.


05:37 PM BST

Goal!

49 min: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1 (Barnes) Newcastle are back in front! Livramento zipped past a flat-footed Dalot on the left and curled a dangerous ball across the six-yard area. It ran beyond the far post to Murphy, who screwed an inviting ball back across the face of goal. Barnes was first on the scene and tapped in from three years.


05:36 PM BST

48 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1

Dalot runs the length of the field, combining well with Zirkzee, before being eased to the ground in the area by Tonali. It was a lean rather than a push and there are no real penalty appeals. Moments later, Amass tries his luck from distance but shoots over.


05:33 PM BST

46 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1

Alexander Isak gets the second half under way.


05:17 PM BST

HT: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1

All square after a good first half at St James’ Park. Man Utd started well but then went behind to Sandro Tonali’s superb goal, and for the next 10 minutes it looked like they might be overwhelmed. But Alejandro Garnacho changed the mood, and the scoreline, with a neat equaliser. The scoreline is about right.

Alejandro Garnacho equalises for Man Utd.

Alejandro Garnacho equalises for Man Utd. - Lee Smith/Action Images


05:15 PM BST

45 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd

Garnacho surges down the left and tries a cutback towards Zirkzee on the edge of the area. It’s blocked but the ball ricochets back to Garnacho, who sweeps a first-time shot across goal. Pope moves smartly to his left to make a good save.


05:13 PM BST

44 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1

Schar tries to bully Amass, who is marking him at corners. Yoro gets involved, pushing Schar to the floor, a gesture for which he is booked.

Eventually Trippier drives the corner very deep towards Guimaraes, who heads over from a prohibitive angle.


05:12 PM BST

41 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1

That was a really good goal for Manchester United and it all started from some excellent work by Ugarte who wrestled the ball back from Joelinton, kept hold of it and then sent Dalot away to run at the heart of the Newcastle defence. With Livramento badly out of position, Newcastle could not get into their defensive shape and the move was finished off cleverly from Garnacho through the legs of a sliding Dan Burn.

Amorim will be very pleased with that because Newcastle had been threatening to turn the screw and score a second.

Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes celebrate Man Utd's equaliser.

Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes celebrate Man Utd’s equaliser. - Lee Smith/Action Images


05:10 PM BST

40 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1

Amass is flattened by Schar, a foul that the referee doesn’t spot. Instead Newcastle have a corner on the right. Trippier drives it beyond the far post, where Isak’s crisp volley is blocked at source.


05:07 PM BST

Goal!

37 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 1 (Garnacho) An equaliser out of nothing! Ugarte turned neatly in his own half and found Dalot, who galloped infield with intent. He ate up 40 yards and then flicked a pass outside to Garnacho, who got away from Livramento and sidefooted a nonchalant left-foot shot that went in off the far post. Another excellent goal.


05:05 PM BST

35 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0

It’s all Newcastle now. Burn - who looked offside but wasn’t flagged - heads Barnes’ cross over Bayindir and onto the roof of the net.


05:04 PM BST

34 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0

Good save by Bayindir! Barnes releases the overlapping Livramento, whose cross from the left side of the area is palmed away by the diving Bayindir. It goes straight to Isak, whose hooked volley is kept out by the keeper as he scrambles to his feet. A vital save, but Isak might have done better.

Seconds later Isak goes round Bayindir but is forced too wide for a shot. Instead he stands up a superb cross that is headed behind at the far post.


05:02 PM BST

33 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0

Manchester United had looked okay and had created the best chance of the game when Joshua Zikzee and Bruno Fernandes combined, forcing an excellent save from Nick Pope.

Newcastle, though, have been happy to let the visitors have a lot of the ball, believing they would be able to hurt them in transitions and that is exactly what has happened.

Jacob Murphy had already gone close with a shot from 20 yards after he was given possession deep inside the visitors’ half and this time the Newcastle swarm press panicked Amorim’s side.

There were several ruished passes under pressure before Manuel Ugarte gave it away and from there, Kieran Trippier fed it into the feet of Alexander Isak, who played a lovely flicked pass over the heads of the centre backs for Sandro Tonali to volley home.

Newcastle’s supporters have been making a lot of noise all game - so have the travelling section to be fair - but it has cranked up a few levels since taking the lead.

Sandro Tonali celebrates a superb goal.

Sandro Tonali celebrates a superb goal. - George Wood/Getty Images


05:02 PM BST

32 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0

Dalot surges down the right, beating Livramento and Joelinton before finding Garnacho. He slides a pass to the onrushing Fernandes, who mishits a left-foot shot as the ball rolls across him. It wasn’t much of a chance.


04:59 PM BST

29 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0

So close from Tonali! Newcastle take a short corner on the right and work the ball infield to Tonali. Nobody comes to meet him so he moves forward and has a pop from 25 yards. It’s a lovely curler that dips just wide of the right-hand post. Bayindir might have had it covered but it was touch and go.


04:58 PM BST

27 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0

That goal has changed the mood, and it’s fair to say you can’t hear the away end singing their Ruben Amorim song any more.


04:54 PM BST

Goal!

24 min: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0 (Tonali) Sandro Tonali breaks the deadlock with a fabulous goal! Trippier fed a sharp pass into Isak, who miscontrolled it slightly on the edge of the area but improvised superbly to lob a short pass over the head of Yoro. It was perfectly weighted for the onrushing Tonali, who belted a volley across Bayindir from eight yards. Brilliant from Isak and Tonali.


04:53 PM BST

23 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd

Good effort by Isak! But there’s the Newcastle threat. Guimaraes crosses towards Isak near the penalty spot; he gets between two defenders and powers a downward header that bounces a few yards of the far post.


04:52 PM BST

22 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Man Utd continue to frustrate Newcastle with a solid away performance. In fact Man Utd have had 63 per cent of the possession and the only shot on target.


04:46 PM BST

17 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Ugarte is booked for a lunging tackle on Livramento. He got a slight touch on the ball and then tripped Livramento in his follow through.


04:46 PM BST

16 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Harry Amass has had a quiet start to his debut, though I say that in a good way. There was one nervous touch early on but apart from that he has been fine.


04:45 PM BST

14 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Manchester United fans are belting out their favourite Ruben Amorim song. The fact you can hear them is a reflection of a decent start by their team, who have quietened - if not quite silenced - the home crowd.

Leny Yoro nips in front of Bruno Guimaraes to clear.

Leny Yoro nips in front of Bruno Guimaraes to clear. - Scott Heppell/Reuters


04:43 PM BST

12 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Lovely save by Pope! A gorgeous bit of one-touch football from Manchester United. Eriksen, Fernandes, Zirkzee, back to Fernandes and then back to Zirkzee, whose sidefoots a first-time from 15 yards that is acrobatically tipped over by Pope. “PlayStation stuff,” says Peter Drury on Sky Sports of that Manchester United passing move.


04:41 PM BST

11 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Trippier’s long free-kick into the area is claimed decisively by Bayindir, his first bit of action in the game.


04:39 PM BST

9 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

An overhit cross from Dalot is kept in by Zirkzee, who appeals for handball when it hits Murphy. It’s quickly cleared by VAR. It did hit Murphy’s arm but it was tight to his body.


04:37 PM BST

7 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Man Utd are happy to slow the game down, knowing that Newcastle always make a fast start at St James’ Park. It’s an interesting clash of styles.

Dan Burn challenges Alejandro Garnacho.

Dan Burn challenges Alejandro Garnacho. - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP


04:35 PM BST

4 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Just wide from Murphy! Zirkzee’s pass goes straight to Trippier, who fires the ball into Murphy. He takes a touch and rifles a low drive from 20 yards that whistles past the far post. A lovely effort from a player who is in the form of his life.


04:31 PM BST

1 min: Newcastle 0 Man Utd 0

Manchester United kick off from left to right as we watch. Newcastle are straight out of the traps and Joelinton has a goal ruled out for offside inside 50 seconds. The flag had gone up against Kieran Trippier, whose cross was volleyed in by Joelinton.


04:30 PM BST

Newcastle pay tribute to Keegan

With their current manager in hospital, Newcastle supporters are paying tribute to one of their former greats in Kevin Keegan. Brillaint as both a player and a manager, it was Keegan’s entertaining style of football that Howe has tried to replicate. He has done more than that, pulling off something Keegan failed to do, by winning a trophy in just his third full season in charge.

Keegan, though, is one of the most important figures in club history and it is a shame he did not want to come to St James’ Park today to see the pre-match flag display in his honour.

Walking in a Keegan wonderland.

Walking in a Keegan wonderland. - Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters


04:21 PM BST

A reminder of the teams

Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Isak, Barnes.

Subs: Dubravka, Wilson, Gordon, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff, Miley, Neave.

Man Utd (3-4-2-1) Bayindir; Mazraoui, Lindelof, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Eriksen, Amass; Garnacho, Fernandes; Zirkzee.

Subs: Heaton, Maguire, Mount, Hojlund, Dorgu, Casemiro, Shaw, Heaven, Mainoo.

Referee Chris Kavanagh (England)


04:15 PM BST

Tindall ‘sure Howe will be back soon’

Here’s what Jason Tindall had to say about Eddie Howe during his pre-match interview.

He’s not been well this week and he was taken into hospital on Friday. Everybody wishes him the best and I’m sure he’ll be back with us soon.

[Has he had any input?] When you’ve been ill all week it’s very difficult to have the kind of input he would normally have. We have a fantastic group who know the expectations and demands, and it’s important they go out and deliver a performance the manager would be proud of.


04:10 PM BST

Ruben Amorim on Harry Amass

We need to give opportunities to these young kids, and we have to rest some players. I think he’s doing the right things, he’s training quite well and he deserves the opportunity. No pressure on him, he’s knows what he needs to do. He needs to enjoy it. We want to have fresh legs for this game because they run a lot.

Harry Amass comes out for the warm-up.

Harry Amass comes out for the warm-up. - Ash Donelon/Manchester United


03:57 PM BST

Premier League results

Chelsea recovered from 2-0 down but that is still a great result for Newcastle, who will jump from seventh to fourth if they win today.

Read more...


03:44 PM BST

Amorim rotates with Europe in mind

We have known for some time that the Europa League is Manchester United’s only shot at glory this season and is Ruben Amorim now rotating players in the league to keep them fresh for midweek?

Man United have the second leg of the quarter final against Lyon to worry about on Thursday and Amorim has made changes to his side for the trip to Newcastle.

There are first Premier League starts for 18-year-old left back Harry Amass as well as goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, who comes in for the hapless Andre Onana, against Newcastle.

Amass has been highly thought of behind the scenes at Old Trafford and the teenager, signed from Watford, has been thrown in at the deep end on Tyneside.

Joshua Zirkzee has been asked to play as the main striker, despite struggling in that role previously.

Newcastle, of course, are without manager Eddie Howe who remains in hospital after feeling unwell on Friday night.

There is no update on Howe’s condition at this stage – or when he is likely to return to work – although we are expecting some more information at the end of the game.

His assistant, Jason Tindall, has been placed in charge of the team for the first time since their first game at Newcastle when Howe was forced to miss the match with Covid. That ended in a 3-3 draw with Brentford.

Tindall has often attracted controversy with his antics on the touchline but it will be interesting to see if he is less animated this afternoon given he has received two yellow cards this season and will face a ban if he picks up a third.

Ruben Amorim has made five changes, but Bruno Fernandes is one man he never rotates.

Ruben Amorim has made five changes, but Bruno Fernandes is one man he never rotates. - Ash Donelon/Manchester United


03:33 PM BST

Amass, 18, to make full Man Utd debut

Harry Amass, who makes his full Manchester United debut today, caught the eye during pre-season last summer. Here’s what our Northern Football Correspondent James Ducker wrote at the time.

It was the sort of attacking full-back play of which Luke Shaw would have been proud: forcing an opening out of nothing down the inside-left channel and whipping in a pinpoint cross full of pace that Amad Diallo crashed home with a sweetly struck volley.

But it was the other, more rudimentary side to Harry Amass’s game that may have given Erik ten Hag greater encouragement that the 17-year-old could offer him some much-needed cover at left-back at the start of the new Premier League season.

Sure, it was only a friendly against Real Betis, but the former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin and midfielder Rodri looked a little shocked when this small but stocky young full-back knocked them flying off the ball in the first half of Manchester United’s 3-2 win at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Thursday.

Read more...


03:30 PM BST

Premier League latest: Chelsea 1 Ipswich 2

Newcastle could receive a big boost before kick-off. Chelsea, one of their Champions League rivals, are 2-1 down at home to Ipswich with around 20 minutes remaining. You can follow that with Greg Wilcox’s live blog.


03:26 PM BST

Jason Tindall: ‘I don’t give a s--- what you think’

By Luke Edwards

You probably already have an opinion on Jason Tindall. It would be difficult not to. Newcastle United’s assistant head coach is more visible, colourful, confrontational and, for many opposition managers, more annoying than anyone else in the Premier League.

Tindall is in-your-face loud. He will argue and complain on the touchline. He is in the fourth official’s ear and gets under your skin. He is impossible to ignore and, apparently, hard to like if you are on the opposition bench.

There is not another assistant manager like him, but there is one thing you need to know about Tindall, something that fuels him, something that has made him Eddie Howe’s most trusted and loyal companion for 17 years: he “does not give a s---”.

Read more...

Jason Tindall will take charge against Newcastle in the absence of Eddie Howe.

Jason Tindall will take charge against Newcastle in the absence of Eddie Howe. - Serena Taylor/Newcastle United


03:25 PM BST

Onana left out of Man Utd squad

André Onana has been left out of Manchester United’s squad to face Newcastle on Sunday.

The United goalkeeper remained at home when Ruben Amorim’s squad travelled to Tyneside on Saturday ahead of the game.

Onana’s understudy, Altay Bayindir, will make his Premier League debut at St James’ Park.

Amorim is thought to want Onana to clear his head after the Cameroon goalkeeper was blamed for both of Lyon’s goals in United’s 2-2 Europa League draw in France on Thursday.

Read more...

Altay Bayindir will make his Premier League debut in goal for Man Utd.

Altay Bayindir will make his Premier League debut in goal for Man Utd. - Scott Heppell/Reuters


03:17 PM BST

Newcastle United team news

Picking the team was a pretty easy job for Jason Tindall: in-form Newcastle are unchanged for the fifth game in a row.


03:16 PM BST

Man Utd team news

Harry Amass, an enterprising left wing-back who turned 18 last month, makes his full Premier League debut. He replaces Patrick Dorgu in one of five changes from the draw against Lyon on Thursday night. Altay Bayindir also makes his Premier League debut in goal, with Andre Onana left out of the squad, while Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Joshua Zirkzee come into the side in place of Harry Maguire, Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund.


03:15 PM BST

Howe ‘conscious and talking’ in hospital

Eddie Howe, the Newcastle United manager, will miss Sunday’s visit of Manchester United after going to hospital for tests.

The 47-year-old missed Friday’s pre-match press conference because of illness, with assistant Jason Tindall standing in for media duties.

Howe was admitted to hospital on Friday night and has been told he will be kept in for further assessment until Sunday.

Read more...


03:13 PM BST

Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Newcastle v Manchester United St James’ Park. Newcastle, who were 12th in mid-December, have stormed through the crowd and are in a good position to secure a Champions League place next season. Newcastle start today’s game in seventh, but they have two games in hand on the teams above them and a victory over Manchester United would move them up to fifth, possibly fourth.

Newcastle will take on Man Utd without Eddie Howe, who is in hospital undergoing tests after feeling unwell during the week. Howe’s combative assistant Jason Tindall will manage the team in his absence.

“The only thing that I’m interested in is doing the best I can for the football club,” says Tindall. “That’s day-to-day at the training ground, preparations and being the best assistant I can for the manager and being the best I can in the role I do for the players.

“However people talk about me, obviously I’ve got no control over that and that’s up to them, but as long as I’m true to myself, as long as I’m myself and I don’t try to be anyone different, then that’s all I’m concerned about.”

Manchester United’s league season is effectively over, and their biggest priority is Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon. Andre Onana has been dropped/rested after a miserable trip to France. But even though the result is less important to Man Utd than Newcastle, it is another chance to improve their understanding of Ruben Amorim’s tactics.

“We are starting to learn the system,” says the Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund. “You have got to learn your movements, player to player. I think that is very important.We are starting to get to know that because of training and because of games, obviously, but, yeah, you can start to see that a bit more now and I think that is why the results are improving.”

Today will be a serious test of their improvement.

Kick off 4.30pm.

Joelinton arrives at St James' Park.

Joelinton arrives at St James’ Park. - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP

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