Red Devils fight for fourth spot stay in Magpies meeting

Manchester United make the trip to St James’ Park in midweek hoping to secure a vital three points, which would see Louis van Gaal’s top four hopefuls remain in a Champions League place.

The Red Devils, 7/2 with Coral to win and both teams to score, will face a Newcastle United side that have enjoyed a fairly successful home run in recent weeks, having lost just once on Tyneside since the turn of the New Year.

United’s Dutch manager endured a troublesome spell of injury setbacks to many key players at the beginning of his reign at Old Trafford, but those woes have been eased this year, with Van Gaal declaring he has just a single absentee.

“Only Robin van Persie is injured. Last week, I had to miss three players,” said Van Gaal. “Now I only have one injury and that is Van Persie. That doesn’t mean that all the players are going with me.”

However, the Dutchman was unable to confirm the extent of his striker’s injury, or how long he will remain sidelined for.

“It’s too quick, we have to wait and see. I cannot say anything on that,” he continued.

United have come under recent scrutiny for their style of play, despite having climbed into the top four and securing an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Arsenal.

The Old Trafford outfit, 21/20 favourites, are currently occupying the final Champions League place in the top-flight table, and are two points ahead of in-form rivals Liverpool.

However, with Brendan Rodgers’ Reds in a rampant run of domestic league form, United must overturn their poor away run and come away from St James’ Park with all three points in order to maintain their impressive position.

The visitors boast a dominant record at home this term, but on their travels is where the struggles lie, having tasted victory in just one of their previous six league games on the road. Van Gaal’s men have only beaten lower league opposition Preston North End and Cambridge United, as well as QPR, in away matches so far in this calendar year.