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Manchester United-Newcastle United Preview

Newcastle United expect to be sternly tested as they host Manchester United at St James' Park on Wednesday evening.

John Carver's Newcastle (9-8-10) have lost just one of their last five league games to pull a comfortable 13 points clear of the relegation zone, and they picked up their second win under Carver with a stuttering 1-0 victory over struggling Aston Villa at the weekend.

"It wasn't scintillating football, but it was two nervous sides," Carver admitted after the game. "Villa are fighting for survival and we were trying to get off that 32-point mark because people are talking about our season fizzling out. What you saw wasn't a great passing or team performance, but it was a battling performance.

"I'm not bothered if it's an ugly win - and it was - because people doubted us after last week. It is proof that we've got a group in the dressing room who are honest and hardworking and even when they're not playing well they'll still give their all."

A glance at the recent head-to-head records suggest the chances of Newcastle making it back-to-back wins are slim. The Magpies have been beaten in five of their last six against the Red Devils and were smashed 4-0 in this fixture last season.

Louis van Gaal's Manchester United (14-8-5) may not have gelled together as a unit this season, but they are picking up results and remain very much in the mix for automatic Champions League qualification. A 2-0 win over Sunderland at the weekend saw United keep pace with their main top four rivals, but defender Chris Smalling admitted it is still vital for United to add three more points when they visit Tyneside.

"We need to make sure on Wednesday we get that win because six points is crucial in these three or four days," Smalling said. "We need some real confidence to go into what is going to be a crucial next couple of months.

"We have to just keep moving the ball and, at times, you are keeping it and going side to side," Slamming added, referring to the passing style Van Gaal demands of his central defenders. "Then you're waiting for that moment to draw one of your opponents out of position and then you take your chance. But it's crucial for the centre-backs that we're not switching off. We have to be on our toes and the manager stresses that before the games."

United will be without striker Robin van Persie for the next month, so Wayne Rooney is expected to be given slightly more freedom to get forward - particularly after scoring his first league goals of 2015 with a brace on Saturday. Luke Shaw (hamstring) and Phil Jones (illness) are doubts for Wednesday's game, meaning that Van Gaal is likely to stick with the same defence that started in the win over the Black Cats. David de Gea and backup goalkeeper Victor Valdes are also struggling with knocks, but the younger of the two Spanish stoppers is expected to be cleared to play.

The Magpies will be without the services of Remy Cabella (knee), Siem de Jong (collapsed lung), Cheick Tiote (knee), Steven Taylor (calf), Rolando Aarons (hamstring) and Paul Dummett (knee).

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