Manchester United face two key tests vs Newcastle

Pressure mounts

United could be fifth on Monday evening if Newcastle supplant them and Tottenham win at Everton. The common consensus is finishing third is a fait accompli for United yet they have only won three of their eight Premier League games since the derby victory on January 14.

Newcastle have played 12 fewer games than United this season and secured two successive and uplifting wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest, the latter secured through an injury-time penalty in front of the black-and-white throng in the away end.

Eddie Howe's side are arguably favourites to finish fourth and have regained momentum that subsided after they reached the League Cup final they lost to a methodical United.

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Going to St James' Park after the internationals is a useful test of United's mettle in a campaign they are not as assured of finishing in the top four as many suggest.

Away-day test

It would be churlish to consider winning at Newcastle a statement but United have one win on the road against the current top 10 and that came in stoppage time at Fulham.

United have endured some miserable days at Newcastle since their promotion in 2017 and months after they were priced out of signing Sean Longstaff in 2019 his brother, Matty, rifled in the only goal past David de Gea.

Last season, United avoided defeat at St James' in what was their first game in 16 days after two postponements enforced by a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad. It was another performance where they were rumbled as a team more comfortable playing with the turnstiles locked than with stands full.

Who starts up front?

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