Man Utd predicted line-up v Newcastle: Seven changes from Man City loss - with Rashford dropped

Predicting Erik ten Hag’s team selection for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle United is a tad more difficult than most Manchester United games.

That’s because the Dutchman hasn’t held his usual pre-match press conference to preview the tie, nor his customary interview with club media. Therefore, it means there’s no update on team news from Manchester United, or any indication of how the Red Devils could approach the last-16 tie at Old Trafford.

There certainly wasn’t much opportunity to think ahead to the Newcastle game when Ten Hag last spoke to the media, in the aftermath of that humiliating loss to Manchester City on Sunday. The United boss oddly opted to start John Evans at the heart of defence and Victor Lindelof at left-back in the derby, despite Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon being available.

Ten Hag also withdrew Sofyan Amrabat at half-time for the second game in a row, while there has been a change at the break in four of the Red Devils’ last five matches, which suggests the United boss is repeatedly getting his starting XI wrong.

Marcus Rashford is one of the team’s underperforming stars who has come under the limelight of late - and not just because of reports he was seen partying in Manchester after Sunday’s derby defeat. The England international has struggled this season and has scored just one goal in 13 appearances, while Alejandro Garnacho’s regular energetic introductions from the bench have only served to further highlight Rashford’s ineffectiveness.

With a busy schedule, Ten Hag will almost certainly rotate on Wednesday, and Rashford is one of the players who will most likely be taken out of the firing line. We’re tipping the 53-year-old to make seven changes for the clash against Newcastle - here’s how they could line up…