Newcastle United boost as key Manchester United players ruled out of Premier League Boxing Day match
Newcastle United travel to Manchester United in the only Premier League match taking place on Boxing Day.
Manchester United will be without several key players for this evening’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United.
The Red Devils lost 2-1 away to high-flying Aston Villa last Sunday and the defeat was compounded by talisman Bruno Fernandes going off injured at half-time.
Unable to call upon midfielders Casemiro, who was serving a one-match suspension, and Kobbie Mainoo due to a calf issue, Ruben Amorim introduced defender Lisandro Martinez as a brace from Morgan Rogers inflicted a defeat.
Manchester United without Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo
Casemiro is eligible to face the Magpies but Amorim has confirmed he remains without Fernandes or Mainoo.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Amorim said: "No, not for this game. They are recovering. I don't think that it is going to take a lot of time. Kobbie is going to return faster than Bruno.
“I don't want to say [how long Bruno will be out], I have an idea of course, but let's see."
And the Manchester United absentee list doesn’t stop there
In addition, Man United are without two of their star attackers in Amad and Bryan Mbeumo who alongside Noussair Mazraoui are competing at the African Cup of Nations for their respective countries.
Defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are also sidelined through injury, with Amorim adding: "We are still working with them, they are not available for this one. Let's see for the next one.”
Newcastle United also without several key players
Speaking of defensive injuries, Newcastle have plenty as they head to Old Trafford with just three senior defenders available.
Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar and Lewis Hall are all set to start the game. Sven Botman has an outside chance of returning, as does goalkeeper Nick Pope, but Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn are out.
On Botman, Howe said: “Sven would be in the category of a group of players that's doing well. Again, we hope to get him back pretty soon. When that day is, I'm not 100% sure. Again, he hasn't trained with the group yet but potentially good news. I don't think he's too far away.”
Livramento became the latest casualty last week when he sustained a knee injury in the 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Fulham. The full-back is still being assessed the early hope is the injury is nothing serious and he can return to playing in January.
Howe added: “It's a difficult one because there's quite a bit of information on Tino. We're waiting to get full clarification.
“We're hoping it's not serious at all and he can resume training quite quickly but before confirming that, we want to be sure we're right. We haven't got clarity on that but hopefully it's good news.”