Newcastle United Assistant manager Jason Tindall has said that Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak can be both fit enough to be involved against Manchester United on Sunday, where the first is more doubtful.
Tindall took the pre-game press conference on Friday, where manager Eddie Howe has been bedmaking during the week with illness.
On Gordan, Tindall said that the prospects were positive with him, although he was unable to finally say if he will be in the team.
“He had a decent week with the physios. He was back on the grass for a Pitch session yesterday. We will judge him today and we will have to make a late call to see if he is available for the bank on Sunday,” said Tindall, as reported by BBC Sport.
Isak, meanwhile, “feels good” according to Tindall. Newcastle jumped Manchester City to the fifth with their 3-0 win over Leicester City on Monday and can strengthen their grip on a Champions League place this weekend.
“It's really tight. With eight games to go, everyone fights. The only thing we can arrange are our versions and what we do. It is important that we enter every game and give the best report of ourselves,” Tindall said.
“It is another important game for us. We will prepare the same as we for Leicester. The boys know how important the game is with eight games left. It is a game in which we hope to do well and deliver the performance that we know we can win the game.”
Ruben Amorim has played thoughts of squadrotation that come in the coming schedule, which suggests that he cannot think of games that go beyond the next.
Of course I will be careful with some players, but again, we have to be competitive. If you play for Manchester United, you can't go to the game and think about the next one, “he said.
“So we're going to face this and then we have three days, we are going to prepare for the next one without running a lot and a lot of training.
“It's just recovering and then we'll be fine with our fans on Thursday. But we have to be confronted in a way that we can win in Newcastle.”
Next in St. James' Park! pic.twitter.com/fwpuj9zfem
– Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 9, 2025
Players to watch
Newcastle – Alexander Isak
Isak is the third highest goal scorer in the Premier League this season with 20 goals, behind only Erling Haaland (21) and Mohamed Salah (27).
The Swede also has the sixth highest-to-xg differential at 3.72 and a shot conversion rate of 26.67%, which is higher than Haaland and (20.59%) Salah (25%).
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has created more opportunities this season than every player in the Premier League (75). It is the fifth time that he has created 75+ opportunities in a single season in the competition, with the only player who is (from 2003-04) to do this more is Kevin De Bruyne (seven).
The 30-year-old scored three goals and delivered three assists in his last six league games.
Match forecast: Newcastle Win
Amorim is an average of 1.15 points per match in the Premier League. The only managers in the history of Manchester United who are on average lower than those in the top flight (20+ games, starting from three points for a victory) are AH Albut (0.73) and Scott Duncan (1.00).
Only Leicester City (14) and Everton (13) did not score this season in more different Premier League matches than Manchester United (12), who have drawn a blank in their last two in the competition. It is most times that the Red Devils have not scored in one competition season since 1989-90 (16).
Newcastle could be the fourth team that this season does the Premier League Double about Manchester United, the most different parties to do this in a single top campaign since 1957-58 (four).
The hosts come here have won 11 of their last 15 Premier League matches and the other four lost. Since the first game in this run (December 14), no more side has won (including Liverpool 11).
Opta wins probability
Newcastle – 55.5%
Tick ​​- 22.2%
Manchester United – 22.2%