Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is off to a fantastic start as Manchester United caretaker manager. The club have won all three games that he has been in charge so far, putting up a goal differential aggregate of 12-3. Not only is United winning again, but they’re doing so with panache in an entertaining style.
Right now, this is the most fun United have been to watch since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, but OGS is yet to face a formidable opponent. The three teams that his United side have beaten up on are 12th, 16th and 20th (dead last) in the current table. Newcastle United, who sit 15th, won’t be much of a measuring stick either.
Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides as we draw closer to the Wednesday night clash.
Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku have both returned to the United attack, while Solskjaer has previously implied an Alexis Sanchez comeback could be in the cards in midweek against the Magpies. The Chilean has been out several weeks due to a severe hamstring injury. It’s great for United that Paul Pogba seems to be back to his regular self again, and the more weapons around him, the more we will likely see Pogba be all that he can be.
You know, kind of like what we saw from him in the World Cup with France.
Elsewhere Chris Smalling is likely out as he continues convalescing from the foot injury that he suffered in the warm-ups before the Liverpool loss. Midfielder Scott McTominay and defender Marcos Rojo are both doubts after not being included in the match day squad that routed Bournemouth yesterday.
Also, central defender Eric Bailly will be absent as he begins serving the three match ban he earned from the straight red card he was shown yesterday.
Flipping over to the hosts, Karl Darlow (elbow), Ciaran Clark (ankle) and Florian Lejeune (knee) are all out due to injury while Ki Sung-yeung will be absent because of Asian Cup duty.
United at Newcastle FC FYIs
Kick-off: 8:00 pm (BST), 3:00 pm (EST) Wednesday January 2, St. James Park
Google Result Probability: United win- 60%, Draw 23%, Newcastle win- 17%
Odds via odd shark: United win- 61/100, draw- 3/1, Newcastle win- 9/2
United starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction: United 2, Newcastle 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.