Erik ten Hag expects Spurs to use pain of defeat as fuel for fightback

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is expecting a serious reaction from Tottenham on Thursday after their damaging 6-1 loss to Newcastle.

Spurs' crushing defeat resulted in the sacking of acting head coach Christian Stellini, with the 48-year-old spending less than a month in charge after replacing Antonio Conte.

Tottenham, with Ryan Mason as their caretaker boss, next face United, who are fourth in the Premier League – six points clear of Spurs and with two games in hand.

Erik ten Hag's team are still eyeing a Cup double, after Sunday's FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Brighton at Wembley, having already lifted the League Cup this season.

But United have had to recover from some disappointing results this season, with Ten Hag stating: "We had some, not so often, that we have to bounce back.

"Definitely (more than I would like) but it happens with all the great teams, even Real Madrid, eh?

"It's obvious they (Tottenham) had a really bad defeat. Of course, then they are mad. That can be fuel for bouncing back.

"But it's about us. An opponent can never be more hungry than we (are), so that is how we have to prepare the game."

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes is carrying an ankle injury that could rule him out of Thursday's trip to Tottenham.

The 28-year-old Portuguese international picked up the knock in the first half of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final and was substituted in extra-time.

Fernandes' wife posted a photo on Monday of the United playmaker with his right foot elevated next to a protective boot and pair of crutches. But the Portugal international was seen without the boot and crutches on Wednesday,

Ten Hag did not provide a time frame for his return. Fernandes has been a key figure for fourth-placed United,