Benjamin Sesko (L) of Manchester United celebrates with team-mate Bryan Mbeumo
Benjamin Sesko (L) of Manchester United celebrates with team-mate Bryan Mbeumo(Image: 2026 Chris Brunskill/Fantasista)
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Newcastle United welcome Manchester United to St James' Park this evening knowing their hopes of European qualification via the Premier League are hanging by a thread.
Saturday's 3-2 defeat at home to Everton has left Newcastle languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and some way off eighth place that is expected to be enough to secure Europa Conference League qualification.
Anything other than a win against an in-form Manchester United side will all but end their European aspirations and it is a game littered with narrative.
The Red Devils have turned a corner under the management of Newcastle-born Michael Carrick and two of their in-form players are winger Bryan Mbeumo and forward Benjamin Sesko, both of whom the Magpies were keen to sign last summer.
With all that in mind, we spoke to Steven Railston, Manchester United correspondent for the Manchester Evening News, to get the lowdown on this evening's opponents.
Benjamin Sesko seems to have really turned a corner in recent weeks. Newcastle tried to sign him in the summer. How impressive has he been and what has impressed you most about him?"Sesko will arrive at St James' Park on Wednesday night as the most in-form forward in the Premier League. He has seven goals in eight matches, and what has impressed me during that run is the variety of finishes.
"Sesko has scored all different types of goals. The technique for his goal to equalise against West Ham was outstanding, while his header to win the game against Crystal Palace last weekend was real old-school centre-forward play. Even when he wasn't scoring in the first half of the season, there was no panic at Carrington.
"Sesko is understood to be one of the hardest-working players in the dressing room, and it was only a matter of time before he found his groove in front of goal because of the extras he does after training, and the mental preparation he puts in at home.
"I spoke to him after the Everton victory and was struck by his maturity. He's got an old head on young shoulders, and he now looks like he could develop into a 20-goal-per-season striker starting from next season."Bryan Mbeumo is another player Newcastle were keen to sign. Anthony Elanga joined the club instead and has struggled while Mbeumo looks to have impressed at Manchester United. How has he performed and how would you rate his impact at Old Trafford?"Mbeumo must be in contention for signing of the season, for me. He's been brilliant since arriving from Brentford, scoring 10 goals, making him United's top goalscorer, but his performances have not been much of a surprise given how consistent he was in the Premier League before his transfer.
"He was signed for £65m (plus £6m in add-ons), and that fee looks even better when you compare it to how much Newcastle paid for Wissa (£55m), who is two years older than Mbeumo. Everyone knew about Mbeumo at Brentford, but I wasn't aware of his work rate until watching him every week this season.
"Mbeumo is a supreme athlete, getting up and down the line to help the team, and when you combine that with his quality in front of goal, that's why he has been a wonderful addition at Old Trafford. United's biggest problem last season was scoring goals, and Mbeumo has gone a long way toward addressing it single-handedly."Michael Carrick has made an instant impact at Old Trafford. What has changed since he arrived at Old Trafford and does Champions League qualification now feel achievable?"I've joked a few times that Carrick has succeeded simply by not being Ruben Amorim. The truth is, Amorim still had the players onside, but results have proven his 3-4-3 formation was holding the club back. Amorim was wedded to his system and stubbornly refused to tweak his tactics for the majority of his 14 months in charge.
"Carrick switched to 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and went back to basics. Fernandes is playing in his best position again, Mainoo has been reintegrated back into the side, and the back four have looked much more solid. Football is not rocket science.
"Fernandes has looked unshackled in the No.10 position and Mainoo is back to his best. It was criminal that Amorim could not find a way to fit such a brilliantly talented young player into his midfield.
"Carrick oversaw wins against Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two games, but there is no doubt that those games suited United, as they were able to soak up pressure and fashion opportunities on the counter-attack.
"West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace across the last few weeks have posed different questions, and United have looked short of ideas when they advance into the final third, although they took seven points from a possible nine from those opponents.
"If Newcastle play on the front foot, as Howe wants his team to, that may suit United. In terms of Champions League qualification, that is the target now, and they are incredibly well-placed to secure that aim."
How do you see Wednesday's game panning out? What is your score prediction?"Carrick's impact has been exceptional, but the undefeated run has to end at some point. St. James' Park is also a difficult place for United to visit. Having said that, Newcastle's defensive record means they should return to Manchester with a result. 2-2."
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