Manchester United play hosts to a struggling Newcastle United outfit this weekend in the return of Premier League football to Old Trafford after an eventful international break.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men edged out Wolves in a tighly contested encounter before heading into the break with Mason Greenwood’s late winner the deciding outcome in the win for the Red Devils.
The Magpies are unlikley to pose much of a challenge to Manchester United who will relish playing on home turf this time around and hope for the three points to move up the league standings.
All the focus in the build up to Saturday’s game is on the superstar Cristiano Ronaldo whose return to Old Trafford in this summer’s transfer window has become the major talking point with United and Solskajer now able to count upon the 36-year-old star forward as the new talisman in the Manchester United shirt.
Whether Ronaldo makes his second debut for United come Saturday against Newcastle United remains to be seen with his presence in team training ahead of the weekend clash suggesting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be keen on giving his new signing a chance to wow the fans who have been in great anticipation since Ronaldo’s move back to England’s top flight.
Newcastle United, the forthcoming visitors to Old Trafford, have claimed just one point from their opening three fixtures in Premier League action and Steve Bruce’s men are heavy underdogs when playing United on the road this weekend.
The hosts, however, will be backed to shed off complecancy and secure what should be a pretty routine win against a weakened opposoition side who sit near the bottom of the league table early on in the season.
WHEN & WHERE?
Charging towards our #PL return 😤#MUFC | #MUNNEW pic.twitter.com/ws6efV6IjJ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 9, 2021
Date: 11 September 2021
Time: 2 PM GMT
Venue: Old Trafford
TEAM NEWS
The major concern on the squad selection front for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sure to be FIFA blocking Manchester United from fielding Fred in the upcoming matchup after the Brazil FA requested action.
Fred’s absence, however, is unlikely to cause conerns amongst the supporters with the midfielder enduring a patchy run of form in recent times and his sidelining for Saturday could give Solskajer a chance to hand some much-needed minutes on the pitch to Donny van de Beek.
Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to get his first game under his belt since his high-profile move back to Old Trafford and another of United’s recruits of this summer Raphael Varane should start at the back alongside Harry Maguire.
KEY BATTLE
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Callum Wilson
How it started // How it's going:#MUFC @Cristiano https://t.co/LzEh6hMOZT pic.twitter.com/oFxzXPHWa6
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 9, 2021
Ronaldo has his sights set on making a mark once again in Premier League football 11 years after he left United for Real Madrid and the Portugese will be harbour ambitions of finding the back of the net in his first outing over the weekend against Newcastle.
Callum Wilson will be backed as the key player for the visitors to Old Trafford with the English striker hoping to returning to his usual lethal self in front of the goal.
MATCH PREDICTION
We predict a strong-looking Manchester United outfit to clinch an easy win over Newcastle United who will find it difficult to sustain the preassure on their travels to Old Trafford.
Our expectation of the scoreline for Saturday’s game is Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United.
