Believe it or not, it’s been 95 years since Newcastle United did a league double over Manchester United.

Hardly an encouraging stat to start the piece, you may be thinking, but this is the season where long-standing records are being broken after our 70-year wait for a domestic trophy finally came to an end four weeks ago!

We’ve won four on the spin in all competitions and we’re back into fifth – for now at least – after Monday’s 3-0 win at Leicester, where we didn’t have to get out of third gear all night against a sorry Foxes side.

We’ve actually been below our best in our last three league games, yet we’ve found a way to win them all, keeping two clean sheets. A positive sign, but Eddie How was right to acknowledge on Monday night that we’ll need to be better in our next three if we want to beat Man Utd, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa over the next week.

On a weekend where Chelsea play Ipswich, Aston Villa face Southampton, Brighton host Leicester and Man City are at home to Palace, our rivals could gain ground on us if we don’t beat a Man Utd side showing signs of improvement after just one defeat in their last six league games.

But, we’re at home, we’re in good form, it should be a great atmosphere, motivation couldn’t be higher with a Champions League spot up for grabs and we’re facing a side who were in Lyon on Thursday night playing Europa League football.

Tindall’s pre-match comments

This section usually features comments from Eddie Howe’s Friday morning press conference, but the boss has been ill over the last few days, leaving assistant Jason Tindall on media duties.

On Eddie Howe: “He’s been really poorly in the last couple of days but we’ve been in daily contact. We’ve been speaking three or four times a day so it’s not affected any of the preparations. We’ve still got a couple of days and I’m sure he’ll be fine for the weekend.

“It’s not very often that’s he unable to come to work and it’s a bit different (not having him around the training ground) but it’s only been a couple of days.”

On Anthony Gordon: “He’s had a decent week with the physios. He was back out on the grass for a session yesterday so we’ll assess him again today to see how he’s responded to that then we’ll have to make a late call on whether he’s available for Sunday.”

On the race for Europe: “Trying to get three points in the Premier League is incredibly difficult and you have to be at your best and at the top of your game. If you’re not, and we’ve experienced ourselves, then you’ll get punished.

“With eight games to go, there are a lot of teams fighting for the same as what we are. All we can control is our own performances and what we do. The most important thing is that we approach every game as we have done all season and give the best account of ourselves. Hopefully, that will be enough to achieve our end goal.”

On fifth spot securing UCL football: “We’re in a position that we would have wanted to be in with eight games remaining. There are a lot of teams fighting for those positions.

“We’ve got a busy week coming up but the most important thing is the Man United game and making sure we prepare right for that. If we can deliver a performance and get the result we want, it takes us one step closer to where we want to get to.”

Team news

Anthony Gordon has had a ‘good week’ with physios and was involved in sessions on Thursday, so a ‘late call’ we be made on his availability. Alexander Isak (groin) is ‘fine’ and has trained, but Joe Willock is out due to concussion protocols.

Joelinton remains one booking away from a two-game ban, while Sven Botman (knee) and Lewis Hall (foot) remain out, with the latter ruled out for the season.

For Man Utd, Kobbie Mainoo could return, Luke Shaw is edging closer to full fitness and there is suggestions goalkeeper Andre Onana could be dropped by Amorim after two mistakes in their 2-2 draw with Lyon on Thursday night.

Predicted line-up

Man Utd haven’t been shipping as many goals lately and look slightly more competent as the team gets used to Amorim’s system, but they are still blunt in attack – Bruno Fernandes aside – and aren’t settled at the other end, with Onana in line to be dropped.

I really hope we see Isak fit and firing after looking at 60% in recent games, but we also have Barnes’ threat, Murphy fresh from a midweek brace and a far superior midfield three the Red Devils down in 13th.

I think it’ll be tight and tougher than recent home wins over Man Utd, yet I still back us to get the job done to bolster our top five hopes once again.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Man Utd

Howay the lads!