Newcastle United head to Old Trafford this evening knowing they will secure a top seven finish if they avoid defeat.
Despite dropping points at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Eddie Howe’s side remain in the driving seat to finish sixth. Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest moved them level on points but the Magpies hold a far superior goal difference.
Meanwhile, Man United sit three points behind both teams in eighth. Not only will a point for the Magpies guarantee 7th, it will ensure they finish above the Red Devils for the first time in Premier League history.
Erik ten Hag’s side have a number of injury problems heading into the fixture, with late calls to be made on Marcus Rashford, Bruno Guimaraes and Willy Kambwala, although Lisandro Martinez is expected to return.
“Licha Martinez, I think he will return in the squad,” said Ten Hag. “He has now [had] some sessions with us and we plan for him to be available.
"This afternoon, [if] everything goes right in the training, he will return in the squad. For some other players, we have to see. Rashford, Bruno, Willy Kambwala, if they are fit enough."
Meanwhile, Howe will make checks of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson after suffering from illness while Fabian Schar is recovering well from a hamstring injury.
“We’ll see,” Howe said on Wilson. “We haven’t seen Callum. We’ll see if he’s available to train today. If not I’m sure he’ll be fit for Brentford.
On Isak, Howe added: “I don’t think it’s a serious illness. He didn’t train yesterday so again, we’ll see if he trains today - fingers crossed he will. But yeah, he wasn’t feeling 100% and I think you could see that.
“He’s been so good in recent weeks athletically as well as technically and all the goals that he’s scored. We knew on Friday he was slightly under the weather.”
Here’s the latest team news from Man United and Newcastle ahead of tonight’s meeting:
1. Harry Maguire - out
Maguire suffered a muscle injury in training last week and isn’t due back until the FA Cup final on May 25. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
2. Raphael Varane - out
Varane has been absent since Man United’s 4-3 loss at Chelsea on April 4. His return date is currently unknown. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
3. Victor Lindelof - out
Lindelof was ruled out with a muscle injury in early April and is in a race to play again this season. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
4. Luke Shaw - out
Shaw last featured in February but could return for the FA Cup final. | Manchester United via Getty Images Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images