Overview
- Ruben Amorim confirmed Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo will miss the Newcastle match, with the manager declining to give a return date for his captain.
- Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain unavailable through injury, while Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are away at the Africa Cup of Nations; Casemiro returns from suspension.
- Amorim called it impossible to replace Fernandes and challenged senior voices such as Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw to take on greater responsibility.
- The fixture is the Premier League’s only game on December 26 with an 8pm kick-off at Old Trafford, where United seek a first home win since October 25.
- Newcastle travel with a lengthy injury list, though Eddie Howe said there is a chance Nick Pope could return, and the Magpies carry a strong recent record against United despite poor away form.