Erik ten Hag can prove he's got another thing right at Manchester United vs Newcastle

It’s a tale of third against fifth in the Premier League this weekend, as Manchester United travel to Tyneside.

Newcastle are having a season to remember and have only lost once at St. James’ Park in the league this term. But they’ll still be licking their wounds after the Carabao Cup final which saw the Reds beat them to pick up the first trophy of the year. The main question on Sunday will be whether the international break has allowed those scars to heal for the Magpies and whether it’s given United a chance to regroup after a slight dip in form.

Due to the World Cup’s unorthodox placement, this season has been disrupted like never before. A team’s ability to hit the ground running after an international break has defined which sides have kicked on further up the table.

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With no more breaks now until the season reaches its climax, United’s players will know their domestic campaign can take centre stage, with two more finals potentially on the horizon.

United have shown both sides of the coin when it comes to recovering after an international break. Towards the start of the season, they entered the first break on a major high after winning four straight league games. This run included victories against Liverpool and Arsenal, giving the team a platform to build on after a poor opening to the campaign.

But by the time October arrived, United fans were perhaps hoping for a return to international football having watched the Reds lose the Manchester derby 6-3.

The following games saw them claim two wins in the Europa League, as well as draws with Newcastle and Chelsea, whilst beating the likes of Everton and Tottenham. In the grand scheme of