Manchester United to hand two players first Premier League start vs Newcastle

Ruben Amorim is set to hand at least two players their full Premier League debut when Manchester United face Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. United are back in action this weekend, with the league clash falling between their crucial Europa League quarter-final tie against Lyon.

United drew 2-2 in France on Thursday night and are set to rest a few key players for the Newcastle match, as Amorim acknowledges the European encounter is more important than their trip to St. James' Park. United are almost certain to record their lowest ever Premier League finish, but could salvage their season if they win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League.

It means there could be wholesale changes to the United line up this afternoon, and it is understood that at least two players are set to be handed their first Premier League starts in the match.

Two full Premier League debuts

Altay Bayindir is set to start in goal when Manchester United face Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, after Andre Onana did not even travel to the north east for the match. The 29-year-old was at fault for both goals in the Lyon draw and is set to be taken out of the firing line by head coach Ruben Amorim.

Onana has played every minute of United's Premier League matches since joining the club in 2023, but will be replaced by Bayindir, who has only played six times this season. Onana is expected to return when United face Lyon in their crucial second leg on Thursday night.

It has also been reported that teenage defender Harry Amass will be handed his first Premier League start at left-back. The 18-year-old made his senior debut against Leicester last month and The Daily Mail say he will be named in the starting line up on Sunday afternoon.

Amorim has already insisted he will pick a team that can defeat Newcastle in the Premier League this weekend, but admitted he might need to rest some players ahead of their crucial Europa League second leg. "We will make this evaluation with all the staff and all the data that we have," he told reporters in Lyon. "Then, because we know already the players, we will try to protect the ones that it will be hard to play a lot of games. Bruno Fernandes is playing all the time and he is playing better all the time. Sometimes this kind of player doesn’t play in every match, but we will address that.

"There is a great responsibility. We don’t have a team that is really big and then we have players that I know cannot make 90 minutes in this moment, we have to be really careful. So we will try to address all these subjects in the game against Newcastle. But we have a great responsibility when we play any games. I will try to look at that, that is for sure. We have to face Newcastle with a team that we can be competitive to win the game.

"Sometimes winning games is the best way of preparing for the next one. Of course, I am going to be careful with some players but again we need to be competitive. When you are playing for Manchester United, you cannot go to the game thinking about the next one. So we are going to face this one and then we have three days. We are going to prepare for the next one without a lot of running and a lot of training. It’s just recovering and then we will be fine on Thursday with our fans. But we need to face Newcastle in a way that we can win."

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