So we are back from the boring international break and the Premier League mood is slowly setting again. It is time for us to put last gameweek’s disappointment behind us and start afresh. We need a new beginning on a strong ground to really push Manchester City to their limits.

      We face Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United at Old Trafford on the last kickoff of Saturday. As with every game, it goes without saying that this is a must win game. We currently sit eight points behind City and are level on points with Spurs in second place. Spurs play Arsenal at the Emirates and a upset for the Lilywhites is on the cards. A win or draw for Arsenal will give us some room to fight it out with City.

       We must go into this game completely charged and motivated. Though City are doing very well and they look formidable and what not, I feel that it is only a matter of time. Life comes at you fast and as a City fan would tell you, this seems too good to be true for them. And when they do eventually fall, we need to be right at their tails to grab that opportunity. They play Leicester away this weekend and the Foxes have looked great under Puel. Maybe they will fall, but it doesn’t make a difference if we don’t do what we have to do. 

      We have quite an update in the injury list so this time’s lineup prediction will be a tricky one. However, let us jump straight into it. 

Goalkeeper: Obviously, David De Gea. Okay, next.

Defenders: I’m going to play a three at the back with Bailly, Smalling and Lindelof. Jones has been ruled out and Lindelof had an amazing time with Sweden. Though, to fill the void left by Jones, we’ll need two more centre backs. As wingbacks, the obvious options are Valencia on the right and Youngy on the left. I would like to see Rojo get a few minutes after he got some gametime for the U23s earlier in the week.

Midfielders: This will heavily change if Pogba returns. If he does make a comeback, we’ll play a 3-4-3 with Matic and Pogba in the middle. If Pogba starts on the bench, we’ll go for a 3-5-2 with Matic and Herrera playing a deeper role with Mkhitaryan playing a more advanced role behind the forwards. I’m going to take a risk and say that Pogba will make his comeback this Saturday and that too in a spectacular fashion.

Forwards: I’m going with a front three, attacking trio of Rashford on the left, Mkhitaryan on the right and Lukaku upfront. Lukaku and Mkhitaryan have been in some dire form but I like to believe that it was majorly down to Pogba’s absence. We were seriously lacking creativity upfront and now that we have it, our goal-scoring form will be back. During the international break, Martial provided a silky assist and is sure to grab a goal when he comes on in the second half. 

So my lineup for the game is: 

De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Lindelof, Young; Matic, Pogba; Rashford, Lukaku, Mkhitaryan.

       Now let’s see how Newcastle are. They had a pretty decent start to the season but seem vulnerable after a few poor performances. However, Rafael Benitez is a very competent manager who hates United. He’ll bring his A-game to Old Trafford and try to bring us down. But if all our players do turn up and we play like we did at the start of the season, we are going to smash them. 

       Anyway, that is it for this time. Here’s hoping we do a number on the Tyne-siders. I’m going for a 3-0 win for us. Lukaku to end his goal drought.