Manchester United need Jadon Sancho to quickly rise to Paul Scholes' challenge

"Fingers crossed, starting from next year, we will see a better Sancho," says Paul Scholes but that's too far away. Manchester United need to start seeing a better Jadon Sancho as soon as possible - starting on Sunday.

United go into the crucial match with Newcastle United severely depleted. Casemiro is suspended, Christian Eriksen is still recovering from injury, Donny van de Beek is out for the season and Marcel Sabitzer is a doubt as well. Nearly all of the midfield could be unavailable.

Then you get to the forwards. It's not yet clear if Anthony Martial is ready to return but even if he is he will be rusty. Alejandro Garnacho is sidelined, Raphael Varane's fitness has not yet been cleared up and it's still not known if Marcus Rashford will have recovered from his own injury in time to feature.

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That's four of Erik ten Hag's guaranteed starters potentially unavailable as well a few first reserves. It's down to the bare bones for the trip to St. James' which has made a tricky match even harder.

United might have been surprised by the comfort with which they dispatched the Magpies in the Carabao Cup final but they were without key players and lost Bruno Guimaraes in the first half. Now they are back to full strength and will be looking for revenge.

But even more important than that will be three points. The optimism around United has perhaps helped hide the fact that a top-four spot is far from secure and a slip-up could see them dragged into the mire of battle.

Newcastle will overtake United on goal difference if they win and then Tottenham, though they have played more games than everyone else, would then be able to leapfrog both if they defeat Everton