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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Kyle Newbould

Manchester United predicted line-up vs Newcastle United as Antony and Marcus Rashford start in Carabao Cup final

Manchester United can end their six-year wait for a trophy on Sunday when they face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Erik ten Hag has a chance to deliver one of his promises at the first time of asking by bringing silverware back to M16, and goes into the final buoyed by progression into the last-16 of the Europa League, following their 2-1 comeback win against Barcelona on Thursday.

That win did, however, only give the Reds two full days to prepare for Newcastle while Eddie Howe has been focused on Wembley since Sunday - although Ten Hag insisted the momentum from this busiest of months is an advantage rather than an issue.

ALSO READ: Latest on Rashford and Martial fitness

Thursday's win at Old Trafford also provided United with a huge scare as Marcus Rashford limped off injured in the second half. The forward has 24 goals across all competitions this season - more than three times the club's second top-scorer, Bruno Fernandes - but Ten Hag admitting he did not know whether Rashford would be fit for the final presents a major concern.

Despite only starting once during the earlier rounds of the cup - the semi-final first leg at Nottingham Forest - David De Gea is expected to start in the final. The 32-year-old continues to show his importance between the posts and his experience from back to front will be vital in fending off an attacking Newcastle side.

At the back, the pair of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have clearly asserted themselves as the first-choice pair, with the Argentinian's availability allowing Luke Shaw to return to his more usual left-back role ahead of Tyrell Malacia. The major question in the back four comes on the right, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka's 67 minutes against Barcelona on Thursday likely paving the way for Diogo Dalot's fresher legs to start on Sunday.

In midfield, Casemiro will provide the base for Fred and Fernandes to push on as they did so well in the second half on Thursday. Fred in particular has been liberated by the presence of his Brazilian compatriot behind him and is enjoying some of the best form of his career at United, while Fernandes will hope to find the key to unlocking a tight-knit Magpies defence.

Upfront is where the one worry lies, but United will no doubt be doing all they can to have Rashford fit and the 25-year-old will likely be passed fit to start - the question being where. Wout Weghorst has only scored one goal since arriving on loan but the Dutchman's pressing and energy could be crucial in suffocating Bruno Guimaraes.

That would leave Rashford to take up his usual spot on the left, with the option to drift inside when necessary while Antony hugs the right-hand touchline. Another to have struggled since joining, the Brazilian's introduction on Thursday saw a marked improvement in United's pressing and his pace could cause problems for Dan Burn on Newcastle's left.

United predicted line-up vs Newcastle: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes; Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.

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