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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. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Any chance Pep rests O’Reilly at last? Or Chalobah / Mukiele miss out?

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      It is a 7-day turnaround between West Ham and Forest...

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      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 25 days ago

        Right. However there are a lot of games in a short turnaround thereafter and he has started every game bar 1 since gw3

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        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 25 days ago

          Benched against Swansea FAC, Villareal UCL, HT sub Leverkuson UCL and no mins in Oct IB.

          He won't be rested tomorrow IMO. Probably gets his next rest against Exeter FAC.

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          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 25 days ago

            Fair enough. Clutching here

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          2. Bennerman
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 25 days ago

            And whatever Pep said him about being a young lad. Pep is a bit weird like that regarding age, started treating De Bruye like an old man way too early

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  2. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Woltemade should get some good chances now at the end. United getting very tired!

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  3. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Wolte starts Burnley is the real flex for owners now 😎

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  4. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Amorim making some wild subs

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      No clue what he's doing

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    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Shaw looked like he was hobbling a bit. To be fair to him, they’ve worked so far

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  5. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Dorgu has been down with "head injury" 4 times this game. Something has to be done or this crap will just get worse.

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  6. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Dorgu loves a face ‘injury’

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  7. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Dorgu so close to a mega haul
    Just one DC needed I think

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      And CS intact

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

      That is

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

    Dogu got "headshot" clearance for his 10th DC. Lol

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  9. agueroooooney
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Is this the last chance to use FH? For GW19?

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Yep

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      1. agueroooooney
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 25 days ago

        Thanks

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  10. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Dorgu rank killer

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    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      His score is a massive 0.02 against my rank. How is he a rank killer?

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      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 25 days ago

        Not serious, obviously

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    2. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      How?

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      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 25 days ago

        You need to read a little deeper!

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  11. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Gordon plays like he's scared of the public eye.

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    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Yet he wears an Alice band…

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  12. Lanley Staurel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Why does Amorim break up a defensive partnership almost every game with subs when defending a lead??

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    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      The guy is a joke.

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    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Like good old fashioned slapstick

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  13. Gazwaz80
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Perfect start to the week if it remains like this…

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  14. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    lol @ United’s current outfield team

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    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Winning team

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  15. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Amorims subs are ghastly! What is he thinking?!

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    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Standard - 7 added minutes too

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  16. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Not even worth having a Newcastle asset for Burnley. They turn to custard away from home

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    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Yes

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  17. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Man United CS locked in. Newcastle aren't scoring even if they played till the New Year

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  18. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Best thing about the Newcastle team today is Joelintons hair

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Remember the Covid haircut? 😆

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  19. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Cunha booked

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Suuuuppeeerrrrbbbbb!

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  20. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Cunha booked

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  21. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Cunha YC

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  22. The Night Trunker.
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Yes Cunha yellow

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  23. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    No Cunha don’t need that

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  24. tucaoneo
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Which ManU player to FH? Surely you have to FH someone against Wolves?

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    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Cunha, Dorgu, Dalot

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    2. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Not many left to choose from!

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  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Cunha yellow

    Who recommended cunha 😆 he’s a nutcase and also this united team look crap going forwards

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

    Cunha customary card

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    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      Nope first one

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    2. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      First of the season

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  27. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Piss off cunha. Moron

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  28. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Owned Dorgu from GW 2 to GW 9 for a massive 2 points

    Go figure 🙄

    I ordered I pizza at 3:22 am to compensate

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 25 days ago

      What’s on it?

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  29. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Cunha trying his best to get sent off

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  30. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 25 days ago

    Heaven first sub
    Wouldn't mind if this Timber ankle injury keeps him out now!

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