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Man Utd v Newcastle team news: Martinez starts

26 December 2025 948 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The festive fixture bonanza begins tonight at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Newcastle United.

The 20:00 GMT kick-off not only gets Gameweek 18 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) underway but also begins a run of 40 Premier League matches in 14 days.

TEAM NEWS

How will United get on without Bruno Fernandes? This is the first time he’s been absent from a league squad in almost exactly a year, with his last missed match ironically being Newcastle at home in December 2024. The Red Devils lost 2-0.

He’s injured and makes way from the line-up tonight but Casemiro returns from a one-match suspension to take his place.

Lisandro Martinez also comes in for his first United start in over 10 months. He replaces Leny Yoro in the only other alteration Ruben Amorim has made to the side beaten at Aston Villa.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are unchanged from the 2-2 draw with Chelsea last Saturday.

There’s no Anthony Elanga, who reportedly has an ankle injury.

Nick Pope does make his return after a month out with a groin issue but is only among the substitutes.

£4.4m FPL midfielder Lewis Miley continues at right-back.

LINE-UPS

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu, Mount, Cunha, Sesko.

Subs: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Fredricson, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato.

Newcastle United XI: Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

Subs: Pope, Joelinton, Wissa, Barnes, Willock, A Murphy, Shahar, Neave, Alabi.

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948 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Desperate clearances at 70th minute against Newcastle.. United are a bottom half side.

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    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      5th as things stand 🙂

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    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      😛

      they're a side missing 5 maybe 6 guaranteed starters

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    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Ah come on, that Utd squad is decimated with injuries. 5 academy players on the bench. The are doing well

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  2. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Dorgu is having a great game. Well done lad

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  3. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Come on Dorgu 3 more dc

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  4. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Dalot striker lol

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  5. RICICLE
    • 3 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Did people expect Cunha to still be a good option without any creative players around him?

    I’m still thinking of bringing him in for Wolves, but watching this…..wouldn’t surprise me if Wolves made it a first win.

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Utd will batter wolves again. They will get their first win v Pool

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      1. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        I sure hope so because Cunha is looking like the only one worth bringing in for Bruno F haha

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    2. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      No, I already owned him before Bruno injury. Hes definitely not a buy.

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    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      was fine until the mount injury

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  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Best utd defender to get ? Need to sell hincopie to fund elsewhere. Cheers

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    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Dorgu short term

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        Cheers. I had him earlier on and miissed a few games. How nailed is he ? I was thinking shaw

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      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        Since 6.29 pm?

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  7. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Utd break and it’s Shaw, Dalot, Dorgu and Zirkzee attacking lol

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  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Cunha involved in hyping up the crowd

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  9. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Cunha frustation usually end up with red card

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    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Maybe that's why Joelinton has been brought on. To pick a fight

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      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        Nice tactic

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  10. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Cunha or Dorgu next GW if you only had one transfer for a Man Utd player vs. Wolves?

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Dorgu motm today. Tempted

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    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Doggie, United attack is blunt

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        How long is he nailed for ?

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        1. chocolove
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 9 days ago

          Until amad back

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          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 9 days ago

            Cheers choco

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        2. Bennerman
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 9 days ago

          For ages

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  11. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Jacob Ramsey back on

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  12. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    BrunoG wins a corner

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  13. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Keeper lucky boy

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  14. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Lamm3ns clown

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  15. Letsgo!
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Why did mount got sub off??

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    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Died

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    2. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Peaked

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  16. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Taylor is such a soft ref. Lammens did not deserve a FK there. Weak box work.

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  17. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Might just go Szob instead of Cunha.

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      I wouldn't

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    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Me at the moment

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      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        Saves a -4 too.

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    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Likely have both by next GW

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  18. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Crap shot from Cunha

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Not the first

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  19. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Lol cunha banana shot

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    1. The Night Trunker.
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Ban.

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  20. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    There goes our cunha chance

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    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Still time for a card or two

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  21. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Gordon minutes on the up and has pens with some great fixtures. Not sure about getting Cunha now

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Elanga injury has increased Gordon's mins (Barnes on for Murphy)

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    2. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Actually a decent option replacing Bruno F, already have Bruno G though annoyingly

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      1. Jet5605
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 9 days ago

        I also have Bruno G and am considering Gordon too for the next four

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  22. Winners900
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    others who have not got Cunha yet wonder if its best to just stay away? Even with great fixtures, United will struggle man w/o Bruno, Amad, Mbeumo and Mount..

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Absolutely

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    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Ofc, he is no superman or rambo who can do it all alone

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  23. tucaoneo
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Woltemade and Gordon both rising...

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  24. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Cuhna needs to learn when to pass. Dorgu was unmarked then…

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  25. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Dogu 9 dc!

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  26. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    How is Zirkzee so weak. Hes a big guy but he has the physical presence of a little guy.

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  27. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    How are Cunha owners feeling?

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Expected, gamble goes on for next few better fixtures ...

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    2. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Clean sheet points count as a return. For today at least.

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    3. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Didn't buy him for this game.

      But to answer the question, concerned

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    4. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Wishing Cunha resorts to his favourite hobby and snatches their glasses off, so they don't have to watch anymore.

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  28. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Gordon row Z

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  29. The Night Trunker.
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Gordon is a Moron.

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    1. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      He's not flash

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    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      Very angular features, bony I’d say!

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    3. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      "He's more of a man than you'll ever be"

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  30. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 9 days ago

    Bruno G owner here
    At least looks like avoiding 5th yc & getting Burnley away next week

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    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 9 days ago

      This

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