Manchester United walk into a storm as Newcastle play for something bigger | OneFootball

St. James' Park is where a match that, on paper, already says it all: a Newcastle chasing the Champions League on one side, and a Manchester United that still isn't sure what it's playing for on the other. But what seems to be a straightforward matchup hides a much weightier game, packed with doubts, absences, coaching re-jigs, and expectations placed by those injuries, limitations, and late tweaks.

Newcastle arrive stronger, but not without uncertainty

Newcastle head into the round sitting fifth in the table with 53 points. It's a solid campaign, built on 16 wins and boosted by the Carabao Cup title. Eddie Howe’s team entered the final stretch of the Premier League with a clear mission: secure a spot in the next Champions League. Their current position would already be enough in the new 2025/26 qualification system, but the problem is being consistent. And it gets more difficult when the absence builds up. Starting with the head coach himself. Eddie Howe has been in the hospital since Friday after falling ill for several days. "He is conscious, talking to his family, and continuing to receive specialist medical attention," announced the club. He is likely to be cleared by Sunday, but in the meantime, his trusted assistant Jason Tindall will captain the team alongside Graeme Jones.

The medic uncertainty is compounded at a time when the team are also dealing with significant injuries. Forward Alexander Isak will be back, but Anthony Gordon remains a doubt.

Alexander Isak | Alex Pantling/GettyImages

The winger, who scored at home and away against United last season to win over United's fans, returned to training after missing out on time through a hip injury. Tindall did not rule him out: "He had a reasonable week with the physios."

He was back on the grass yesterday for a session, so we’ll assess him today to see how he reacted, and then we’ll decide whether he’ll be available on Sunday.” On top of Gordon, Newcastle's defense still lacks key men. Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, and Lewis Hall remain out, and Joe Willock is also in doubt. It makes it more difficult to select the starting XI, even with the team performing well in the league.

United struggling with absences and disappointing results

On the red side of Manchester, things look very different. United entered the weekend in 13th place, having accumulated 38 points from 31 matches. Thirteen losses have created gaps in the team and the vulnerability of the project. The 2024/25 season has been some letdown. Ruben Amorim, who arrived with high hopes, is trying to get by with a team that, apart from being poorly built, has been afflicted with permanent absentees and physical frailties that even make simple rotation impossible. Asked whether any of the players would return in time to face Newcastle, Amorim was blunt: "No, I think it's the same." That concise answer sums up the mood: United has no backup bench to speak of, no rhythm, and no wind. The roll of missing players only serves to affirm that.

Luke Shaw remains absent, having not featured in the last two games. Lisandro Martínez is out for the season. Matthijs de Ligt and Toby Collyer were absent due to injury. Defenders Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven are also unavailable. Amad is occupied working in the gym, hoping to be back on the field before the end of the season. Mason Mount was awarded some game minutes over recent weeks, but is still yet to regain his form.

Mason Mount | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

And Kobbie Mainoo is now competing for a starting role after being introduced as a substitute with an impressive show. The manager's words expose the dilemma of juggling fitness and strategy: "It's a very big responsibility. We don't have a squad large enough to rotate, and there are some players that I know still can't play 90 minutes right now." Amorim tries to stay calm, but the internal image is precarious.

A battle of extremes

Newcastle and Manchester United are approaching this game in totally different moments. The Magpies, who have had some injuries, remain rock-solid in the top five with an eye to returning to the Champions League. The Red Devils, on the other hand, have struggled throughout the season, under siege from an epidemic of injuries across the pitch, and show up on the pitch without a plan.

The difference in the stances is a reflection of how the two clubs handled their crises: one managed to survive without the entire squad, the other never stabilized. However, United realize a home win would take the heat off for the time being. For Newcastle, it's the chance to cement their leadership, capitalize on their adversary's moment, and demonstrate that they can respond, even when they do not have their head coach.