Manchester United and Erik ten Hag need a sharp response after being hammered 3-0 by arch rivals City on derby day, with Newcastle up next in the Carabao Cup fourth round
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Football Digest: Man Utd urged to give Ten Hag time he needs
Erik ten Hag is ready to shuffle his personnel after Manchester United’s abysmal derby day defeat.
United are still reeling from Sunday’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford, which condemned Ten Hag’s side to a fifth defeat in 10 league games. Ten Hag is ready to get ruthless with his underperforming players and wield the axe for tonight’s defence of the Carabao Cup at home to Newcastle.
Second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir could make his United debut in place of Andre Onana, while Marcus Rashford, who has one goal in 13 games, is in danger of being dropped. Ten Hag has the chance to give his fringe players a chance to prove themselves after his established stars let him down so badly in the abject display against Treble winners City.
That could see starts for young duo Alejandro Garnacho and Hannibal Mejbri, and a return to the starting line-up for Raphael Varane, Sergio Reguilon, Antony and Mason Mount, all of whom were on the bench on Sunday. Ten Hag is mindful of the short recovery time between Wednesday’s match and Saturday’s 12:30pm kick-off at Fulham, a game in which United cannot afford to lose again.
A much-changed United XI beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in the third round, marking the Red Devils’ best performance of the season so far. Ten Hag will also be thinking about the upcoming games next week, as United travel to Copenhagen in need of a victory to boost their Champions League knockout hopes before hosting Luton at Old Trafford prior to the international break.
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This is how Manchester United are expected to line up against Newcastle
The Dutch boss chose not to hold a pre-match press conference to preview the clash with Newcastle, who they beat 2-0 in last season’s final at Wembley to end their six-year trophy drought. However, ahead of Sunday’s demolition, Ten Hag did provide an update on academy prospect Kobbie Mainoo, who was a regular in pre-season before suffering a serious ankle injury which forced him out for three months.
“There’s still a way to go, but, for part of the game, he is ready,” the Red Devils manager told MUTV. “That’s good news because we counted on him this season. He’s a midfield player and we can use his capabilities, his physicality, his taking the ball. He’s brave, so [he has] all abilities and skills. He can contribute to the team.”
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Man Utd predicted lineup: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Reguilon; Hannibal, Amrabat; Antony, Mount, Garnacho; Martial
Newcastle predicted lineup: Dubravka, Livramento, Lascelles, Dummett, Targett; Longstaff, Joelinton, Hall; Almiron, Gordon, Willock
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