Eddie Howe explains Newcastle weakness to Erik ten Hag ahead of Manchester United clash

Eddie Howe has explained one of Newcastle’s weaknesses to Erik ten Hag as they visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.

Manchester United welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup in a fixture that recreates the competition’s 2023 final, where Erik ten Hag emerged victorious thanks to goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.

This season, United are in dire straits, having lost seven fixtures already this campaign, five of which are in the Premier League – already, the Carabao Cup seems to present itself as the only viable option United currently have to win silverware.

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Newcastle, who defeated Manchester City in the last round of the competition, will be looking to get revenge on United for last season’s final, although Eddie Howe has explained to Ten Hag that his side are suffering from the weakness of having a thinner squad – but that he still backs his team to win against United on Wednesday evening.

“It’s a busy period for us. A lot of games. We look forward to Manchester United next,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “We’re going to have to utilise our squad, we have another game against Arsenal a couple of days later and then we go to Dortmund.

“To not use our squad would be foolish but that doesn’t mean that we don’t trust and back our squad to be able to go to Old Trafford and try to win the game. 

“You can have a game where you lose one or two players and suddenly the outlook on the squad and dynamic of the squad changes but you just have to roll with the punches. You have to absorb the hits and have to find a way, which is what we’ll try to do.

“It’s not ideal for us, especially with the season we have. It’s a totally different feel to last season where we could maybe absorb those hits a bit easier with the week-to-week games. 

“We’re not in that position now so we’re going to need everybody in the squad to step up which I think is the key message. Everyone has to give a bit more. Every player in the squad is so important and has a huge role to play.”