Overview
- Kick-off is 20:00 GMT at Old Trafford with United seventh in the table, three points clear of 11th-placed Newcastle.
- Ruben Amorim confirms Fernandes misses out with a soft‑tissue hamstring problem from Villa Park, and United have failed to win their last seven league matches when he hasn’t started.
- Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire remain out, with Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo unavailable due to AFCON duty.
- Casemiro returns from suspension, and Lisandro Martínez is a potential midfield option as Amorim reconfigures limited resources.
- Eddie Howe says there is a chance Nick Pope returns from a groin issue, though the decision is set to be made late.