These are really rough times for Manchester United and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian is still in search of his first away win since being named permanent boss, and the last time United achieved such a feat was literally back in March. This rebuild is certainly going to take a very long time.
Now comes a trip to Newcastle United tomorrow, and if the Norwegian’s boys don’t take all three points, it will mark the 11th straight road outing that ended in something other than victory. If United can achieve this, they’ll have to do so without the services of Paul Pogba; who will miss his second straight game due to an ankle injury.
“It might be time for us to give Paul 10 or 14 days extra to be ready for Liverpool,” said Solskjaer, who made some incredibly tone deaf public remarks after the goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/1180209683338018818
Jesse Lingard, who’s enduring an awful season thus far, will also miss out after having suffered a hamstring injury on the plastic pitch at Alkmaar. Meanwhile this match will likely come too soon for long term injury absentees Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw.
Phil Jones and Eric Bailly remain long term injury absentees. For the hosts, defender Jetro Willems (knee), forward Dwight Gayle (calf) and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) are all doubts.
The 19th place Toon will also be without the injured Matt Ritchie (ankle) and Florian Lejeuene (knee) until after the international break.
Additionally, midfielder Isaac Hayden serves the first of his three game suspension.
Manchester United at Newcastle United FYIs
MUFC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Oct. 6, St. James Park 4:30 pm
Form Guide: Manchester United DLWDL Newcastle United LDLDW
Google’s result probability: 50% Manchester United win, 28% draw, 22% Newcastle United victory
Referee: Mike Dean
Odds: Newcastle 4/1, United 10/11, Draw 12/5
Prediction: United 1, Newcastle o
The Red Devils are so due for a win right now.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.