Newcastle United boss hits back at Erik ten Hag over 'advantage' claim ahead of showdown at St James' Park

The Manchester United manager complained about his side’s fixture congestion following Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s opponents, Newcastle United, drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain the day before, and they'll be aiming for a sixth straight Premier League victory at home when they take on the Red Devils. However, ten Hag hinted that Newcastle might have an advantage over his team because they had an extra day to prepare for the game.

Explaining the turnaround after the Champions League trip to Turkey, the Manchester United boss told MUTV: "That is not to our advantage, so that's why we manage this, how we do it now.

"Quickly back. We played Sunday, we played tonight and Saturday is our next fixture, so we have to be ready for that." We know that's a tough game—a totally different game—but it's an open game.

"It is definitely a very compact team. Very good at pressing. You don't get spaces. You don't create so many chances against them and you have to be very good in transition at a high intensity, so we know we have to prepare for that."

In response to ten Hag’s' comments, Howe said, "We have been in the situation the other way around. It is difficult when another team may have a day, two days, or three days ahead of you.

"When you are looking at our season this year, and the teams that are in Europe, you're always at a disadvantage to the other Premier League teams who aren't playing in Europe, but when you get into the rhythm of playing, it does not make that much difference in my opinion."

Both sides have several injury issues going into this fixture, with Newcastle set to be without at least 11 first-team players at St James' Park on Saturday evening.

Howe's side have beaten Manchester United in back-to-back matches, including a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier this season in the Carabao Cup, and could win three times in a row against the Red Devils for the first time in over a century.