Gameweek 29 of the 2025/26 Premier League season continues on Wednesday, with the day featuring five matches. The action will start with four simultaneous game before ending with Newcastle United vs Manchester United at St. James’ Park.
Few would have predicted Newcastle United to struggle as badly they have in the 2025/26 Premier League season. The Magpies have won only ten of their 28 top-flight outings thus far, and they are on a run of only one victory in seven Premier League matches. The latest setback was a 3-2 defeat to Everton. While the Magpies produced a spirited performance and briefly teased a comeback, a late goal by Thierno Barry handed them another defeat.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s unbeaten start to life under Michael Carrick continued this past weekend. While the Red Devils were slow off the blocks and produced a turgid display for most of the match, they showed remarkable resolve to come from a goal down and clinch three points. Carrick’s charges are unbeaten in their seven outings under the English tactician, and the latest victory has helped them rise to third in the Premier League standings.
The reverse fixture ended in a hard-fought 1-0 win for Manchester United, with Patrick Dorgu scoring the match-winning goal as the Red Devils held off wave after wave of Newcastle United attacks to hold on for three points. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Eddie Howe has new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Newcastle United head coach may be bereft of the services of half a dozen first-team players vs Manchester United on Wednesday.
Howe has been sweating over the fitness of Jacob Ramsey and Nick Woltemade, with the duo recovering from an illness. However, they should be fit and available to take on Manchester United. Meanwhile, Fabian Schar (ankle), Emil Krafth (knee), Valentino Livramento (hamstring), Lewis Miley (thigh), and Bruno Guimaraes (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Nick Pope is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Newcastle United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Wednesday. The backline will feature Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, and Lewis Hall.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Jacob Ramsey, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton in the middle of the park. Finally, Nick Woltemade will spearhead the Newcastle United attack against Manchester United, with Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon
Like his counterpart in the Newcastle United dugout, Michael Carrick has new roster issues to worry about ahead of the trip to St. James’ Park. The Manchester United head coach may be without half a dozen first-team players on Wednesday.
Carrick is sweating over the fitness of Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, with the duo recovering from illness. Additionally, Lisandro Martinez has been struggling with a minor muscular injury. However, the trio may be fit and available to take on Newcastle United on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Matthijs de Ligt (lower back) and Patrick Dorgu (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Senne Lammens is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Newcastle United on Wednesday. The backline will feature Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Noussair Mazraoui. Shaw will start if he is fit and available.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo in the double pivot. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha being the two wide attackers. Finally, Benjamin Sesko will lead the line for Manchester United against Newcastle United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
While Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade, and Benjamin Sesko were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as the Player to Watch for Wednesday’s Premier League clash between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James’ Park.
The Portuguese international has 13 Premier League assists this term, the most by a Manchester United player in a season since Antonio Valencia in 2011/12 (also 13). Only David Beckham in 1999/00 (15) and Nani in 2010/11 (14) provided more in a campaign in the competition for the club.
So, after scoring and assisting against Crystal Palace this past weekend, it is hardly surprising that Fernandes is a captaincy candidate in FPL for Gameweek 29. The Manchester United skipper will also be the go-to player for Michael Carrick against Newcastle United this week.
The 2025/26 Premier League campaign has been going from bad to worse for Newcastle United, and they will be desperate to return to winning ways when they host Manchester United at St. James’ Park on Wednesday. However, the home side’s backline has been a liability throughout the season, and that will be the team’s undoing in the midweek clash.
On the other hand, Manchester United may produce another insipid performance in the first half before recovering after the break. So, while there may not be much to separate the two sides until half-time, the visitors will run away with the game in the second half. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Michael Carrick and his charges, with Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo deliver the goods for the away side.
