FA investigation expected as trio suspended for Manchester United vs Newcastle

A few familiar faces will be missing when Manchester United host Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday night. Ruben Amorim's side have now lost three matches in a row ahead of the daunting prospect of hosting a rejuvenated Newcastle at Old Trafford after the weekend.

United were defeated 2-0 by Wolves on Boxing Day and to make matters worse, they were handed a further double blow in the match when Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a second yellow card offence and Manuel Ugarte also earned a one-match suspension for an accumulation of bookings.

It is not only United who will be without a key figure next time out, after Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall was sent off during their 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day. There were unsavoury scenes at half-time of the match, as both sets of players clashed after Jhon Duran had been sent off for a stamp on Fabian Schar. The altercation resulted in the dismissal of both Tindall and Villa analyst Victor Manas by referee Anthony Taylor.

“I saw plenty. I don't know the actual details of why he [Jason] was sent off, that would need some clarification from me because if you're going to send him off you could probably send 10 to 15 people off,” said Eddie Howe afterwards. “I'm not quite sure what he's been charged with. I don't know the players' side of it too much, I was right at the top of the stairs so I don't know what happened behind me. But of course, we're all standing up for each other in that moment and protecting ourselves.”

When further pushed on the incident, that was described as a 20-man melee, Howe added: “I don't think that's far off, I think. These things always start not with the intention of it happening in the way that it did. It was probably 17 or 18 people trying to calm it down but what it looks like then is more people are involved and no one wants to see that. It's not at all how I want my players and staff to be but sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right and protect each other.”

Tindall will at least serve an automatic one-match ban for his red card offence, though the punishment could be increased depending on the result of the FA's initial investigation into the incident.