Coming off the back of yet another drab and uninspiring display against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, United return to league action hoping to restore some semblance of optimism to a fanbase that is, in large part, once again becoming exasperated at the club’s current plight.
Hosts Newcastle are themselves a group in disarray at present. A 13th place finish in 2018/19, overseen by miracle man Rafa Benitez, retrospectively belied the turmoil that was burgeoning from within the club. Then, in the summer, the Geordie faithful’s worst fears were realised, as Benitez was not given the assurances he wanted from self-serving owner Mike Ashley, and decided to take his expertise to the Chinese Super League, dragging fan-favourite Salomon Rondon with him. Top scorer Ayoze Perez was shipped to Leicester, and the two were replaced by record signing Joelinton, who garnered a return of 11 goals in 35 games last year for Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim. Safe to say, Newcastle fans were not optimistic about their chances of survival, reflected by bookmakers in making The Magpies relegation favourites.
Hopes of a takeover at the start of the season failed to materialise, and aside from a shock 1-0 win away at Tottenham back in August, results now see them well and truly in an early relegation battle, languishing second from bottom in the table, and on the receiving end of a 5-0 drubbing from Leicester City last time out. Injuries to key player Miguel Almiron, as well as summer signing Allan Saint-Maximin have not helped matters, however both have trained this week and will look to pose a threat to United’s recently developed back four. Sean Longstaff, a rumoured United transfer target in the summer, will also look to show why Newcastle saw fit to slap a £50 million price tag on his head.
Similarly, United possess real problems of their own. Two wins in the first seven games sees the Red Devils sitting 10th in the league, just four points better off than Sunday’s opponents. A 4-0 triumph over Chelsea on the opening day of the season flattered to deceive a side that ever since, has largely looked devoid of ideas. After deeming Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku surplus to requirements in the summer, United are now heavily reliant on a rather threadbare strikeforce, including the often inconsistent Marcus Rashford, injury-plagued Anthony Martial, and 18-year-old academy product Mason Greenwood. A return of 7 goals in 9 games since the curtain raiser to United’s season against Chelsea, and it doesn’t take Einstein to figure out why United sit exactly mid-table of the Premier League, a position that already has Solskjaer’s knee-jerk appointment called into question by some of the United fanbase.
At the other end of the pitch, there is little doubt that summer acquisitions Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have revamped a once fragile defence. Wan-Bissaka has barricaded the right-hand side and nullified virtually every threat that has come his way thus far this season, and Solskjaer will be praying that the 21-year-old will be available for selection following illness.
Perhaps most damning to United’s lacklustre performances this term, is the fact that fellow new boy Daniel James, an £18 million signing from Swansea, has been the bright spark and indeed the focal point of the attack. If we’re honest here, before James had pulled on the famous red shirt for the first time, most fans had only caught glimpses of the Welsh winger from compilation videos on YouTube, in particular THAT goal against Brentford, sprinting virtually the full length of the pitch and blitzing past three Brentford defenders, before calmly slotting home. Yes we knew he had potential, but he was seen as just that. POTENTIAL. A player that would probably be given the standard cup run, or be introduced for the last 15/20 minutes of games, where United are either looking for a shot in the arm, or the game has already gone. And yet here we are, 7 games in, and James is already being turned to, to provide the inspiration, and the goals, to procure points. You have to feel that United will need a strong showing from him against the Toon to put maximum points on the board for just the third time this season.
If it was “Ole at the wheel” at the start of his tenure, he is now quickly in need of an MOT. Doubts over Wan-Bissaka, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial’s inclusion against Newcastle will certainly not bolster his chances of steering the Reds to all 3 points, but you sense that United should still have enough in the tank to get home safely.