Tough-tackling Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes will be marauding the Old Trafford turf with menace on Wednesday evening and Newcastle’s chief enforcer is a strong candidate to commit 2+ fouls. The 26-year-old has been committing 1.40 fouls per 90 in the Premier League this season, though his output could climb in midweek.

Guimaraes has fouled at least twice in 15 separate Premier League fixtures this term and he gave away two free kicks when Newcastle last faced Man Utd in the top-flight in December. The former Lyon star will be eager to stamp his authority on proceedings on Wednesday and a high foul count for the anchorman is anticipated again.

Speedy Swede Alexander Isak is finishing the campaign in superb form in the final third for Newcastle and the 24-year-old has bagged eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances alone for the Magpies. Isak has also lodged at least two shots on target in five of his last seven starts in the division and he can match that output at Old Trafford.

With Jonny Evans and Casemiro still paired in defence, Man Utd looking worryingly one-paced at centre-half and Isak’s pace coupled with the intelligent timing of his runs could put him into some threatening positions on Wednesday. Isak had three attempts at goal when Newcastle beat the Red Devils in December, so expect him to be just as involved in this week’s rematch.

Winger Anthony Gordon was Newcastle’s match-winner in the Magpies’ 1-0 win over Manchester United in December and the former Evertonian could be one to watch in the anytime goalscorer market again in the clubs’ return fixture. Gordon has been wielding his powers of creativity in recent weeks to claim four assists in five starts, though his finishing skills could come to the fore on Wednesday.

In Man Utd’s last league fixture at home to Arsenal on Sunday, the Gunners’ left winger, Leandro Trossard stole in to net the game’s only goal. The Belgian capitalised on Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s slow reactions to net at the weekend and Gordon could have similar joy against the same loose marker at Old Trafford. Wan-Bissaka often struggles to track blind side runs and cutbacks, and Gordon is smart enough to exploit that weakness.

Ex-Manchester United transfer target Sean Longstaff has been surging forward with greater intent in recent weeks and the 26-year-old midfielder will be eager to get within shooting range again.

Longstaff hit two shots on target in the Magpies’ 1-1 draw with Brighton at the weekend and he also made his mark against Burnley the week before. Longstaff tested Clarets’ keeper Arijanet Muric with one of his two efforts at Turf Moor in that 4-1 Newcastle triumph at Turf Moor and with his sights honed, the Newcastle academy graduate could draw Man Utd stopper Andre Onana into action at least once this week.

Scott McTominay was in the thick of the action when Man Utd were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle in the teams’ last encounter in December. The Scotland international attempted four tackles and committed three fouls in his attempts to stem the flow of Newcastle attacks, and the 27-year-old might have to put his combative abilities to good use again in Wednesday’s rematch.

McTominay has committed at least one foul in 18 separate Premier League appearances this season, while he has also sinned at least twice in eight different top-flight contests. His three-foul tally against Newcastle in December was his joint-highest foul haul for a single run-out this season however, and McTominay could throw his weight around with similar gusto in Wednesday’s return fixture.

19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho has been shouldering a lot of responsibility for United this season, despite his tender years, and the Argentinean teenager strained to produce a match-changing moment for his team again on Sunday, racking up a game-high seven attempts against Arsenal.

Garnacho mustered six or more attempts in three of his last four appearances in red overall and his shoot-on-sight policy could make him a candidate with merit in the 2+ shots on target market against Newcastle. Garnacho has had at least two shots on target in five different Premier League run-outs since February and the ex-Atletico Madrid starlet has registered 50 shots overall in his last 14 league appearances combined.