2:01PM BST 05 Oct 2012
Sunday, October 7
Sports Direct Arena
Kick-off: 16.00 BST.
TV: Sky Sports 1, Highlights BBC1 Match of the Day 2
Newcastle (Possible, 4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Pearch, Williamson,
Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tioté, Gutierrez; Cissé, Ba
Out: Coloccini (hamstring), R Taylor (knee), S Taylor (hamstring), Krul
(arm).
Manchester United (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Lindegaard; Rafael, Ferdinand,
Evans, Evra; Carrick, Scholes; Nani, Rooney, Cleverley; Van Persie.
Out: Jones (knee), W Keane (knee), Smalling (toe), Valencia (ankle),
Vidic (knee), Young (knee).
Tests: Carrick, Giggs (illness).
Referee: Howard Webb. Matches 4, R1 Y15.
Team News
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is likely to draft a quartet of big names back
into his starting line-up for Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester
United.
Keeper Steve Harper will resume after taking over from Rob Elliot against Bordeaux in Thursday when he suffered a groin injury, with 19 year-old Jak Alnwick providing the back-up from the bench
Defender Davide Santon, midfielders Jonas Gutierrez and Hatem Ben Arfa and striker Demba Ba were all rested for Thursday night's 3-0 Europa League victory over Bordeaux, which saw full-back Danny Simpson return from a hamstring injury.
Defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor and utility man Ryan Taylor are still out.
Manchester United, meanwhile, will have experienced midfield trio Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick available for Sunday's Barclays Premier League game at Newcastle.
Giggs and Carrick missed the Champions League trip to Cluj on Tuesday through illness while Scholes was rested.
Defender Jonny Evans has also recovered from a dead leg and could feature but Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic and Phil Jones are not yet ready to return.
Match Notes
Few teams are able to beat Manchester United at home two seasons running, but
Newcastle are dangerous opposition for Sir Alex Ferguson’s faltering side.
They produced their best performance of the season to beat Bordeaux 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night and while a repeat of their 3-0 triumph last season might be beyond them, United will have to be at their very best on Tyneside to take something home with them.
Given Newcastle’s injury problems in defence, they will look to attack from the start.
It could be a classic.
Betting: Home 14-5, Away 19-20, Draw 5-2.
Stat of the game: Manchester United have lost two of their opening six games for the first time in 10 years.
Luke Edwards’ prediction: Newcastle United 2 Manchester United 2.
