Bruno Fernandes doubt as Manchester United star dropped from squad vs Newcastle United

Ruben Amorim is set to rotate his Manchester United starting XI for the Premier League clash against Newcastle United.

Man United visit St James’ Park this afternoon (kick-off 4:30pm), less than 72 hours after drawing 2-2 with Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie. The second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday takes precedence, so Amorim is of the mind to rest players.

"Sometimes winning games is the best way of preparing the next one,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference. “Of course, I'm going to be careful with some players, but we need to be competitive. When you are playing for Manchester United you cannot go to the game thinking about the next one s we are going to face this one.

“We have three days and we are going to prepare the game in the way without a lot of running, a lot of training. It's just recovering. And then we will be fine on Thursday with our fans. But we need to face Newcastle in a way that we can win the game.”

"There's a great responsibility,” Amorim added. “We don't have a team that is really big to do that, and then we have some players that I know that cannot make 90 minutes in this moment still. We have be careful, so we will try to address all these subjects in the game against Newcastle.

“But we have a great responsibility when we play any game, so I will try to look at that. That is for sure. But we have to face Newcastle with a team that we can be competitive, and to win the game."

Rumours surrounding Andre Onana and Bruno Fernandes

As per multiple reports, Andre Onana will be taken out of the firing line at St James’ Park and replaced by Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

Onana was labellled as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history” by Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic. And as it happened, the Cameroonian was at fault for both the goals the Red Devils conceded in France.

It’s understood the 29-year-old has been left out of the Manchester United squad completely.

Meanwhile, there are strong suggestions Bruno Fernandes could be rested. Amorim said: "It's an evaluation. We'll make this evaluation with all the staff, with all the data that we have, and then because we know already the players, we will try to protect the ones that it will be hard to make a lot of games.

“But Bruno Fernandes is playing all the time and he's playing better all the time. Sometimes, this kind of player has to play in every match. But we will address that in these days that we have to prepare."

Victor Lindelof, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee are among the players that could start.

How Newcastle United are expected to line-up

Newcastle are expected to be unchanged from Leicester on Monday as they eye a fifth consecutive Premier League win. Eddie Howe’s side currently sit fifth in the table, which will secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.

The Magpies haven’t lost to Man United at St James’ Park since 2020. A win today would be the first time Newcastle have recorded a league double over the Red Devils in 95 years.

YOUR NEXT READ: Manchester United supporters won't like Premier League announcement ahead of Newcastle United clash.