Manchester United welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Boxing Day, facing a severe test of their squad depth.
Ruben Amorim’s side suffered a painful defeat to Aston Villa last weekend. Worse still, they lost their talismanic captain, Bruno Fernandes, to injury. The Red Devils have a poor record without their Portuguese playmaker.
In fact, they have failed to win any of their last seven league games when he hasn’t started. Therefore, Amorim will need his remaining senior stars to step up and deliver a performance that keeps them in the hunt for European qualification.
Manchester United team news
Ruben Amorim has ruled out Bruno Fernandes due to a soft-tissue injury. Furthermore, young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is out due to a calf injury. On the positive side, Casemiro returns from suspension and is expected to slot straight back into the midfield.
To solve the midfield crisis, defender Lisandro Martínez could be pushed forward to partner the Brazilian. In defence, injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire mean youngsters like Heaven could feature alongside Leny Yoro. Up front, the Africa Cup of Nations has stripped the squad of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo. Consequently, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha are expected to support Benjamin Šeško in attack.
Manchester United predicted Lineup
Manchester United predicted XI: Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Martínez, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Šeško
When will the match kick off?
The Premier League fixture takes place at Old Trafford on Friday, 26 December 2025. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
How to watch Manchester United vs Newcastle United?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage starts at 19:30 GMT.
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