TEAM NEWS
Ten Hag confirmed on Friday that Anthony Martial will miss the final during his pre-match press conference.
The boss also commented on the fitness of in-form forward Marcus Rashford, following his substitution against Barça on Thursday evening, stating “I don’t know. Players are now coming in [to Carrington], we have to do investigations, medical [checks]. Straight after a game you can’t say, you have to wait for medical [checks].”
On a more positive note, both club captain Harry Maguire and Antony returned to make the bench against the Catalans, with the latter netting the winner against Xavi’s side.
Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek remain long-term absentees.
The Magpies will be without first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope, who is suspended after picking up a red card in their recent Premier League loss to Liverpool.
Fellow stopper Martin Dubravka is cup-tied, having represented United in the competition during his loan spell at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Eddie Howe is therefore likely to either hand a competitive Newcastle debut to former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, or pick Mark Gillespie, who last played between the posts for the club’s senior side in September 2020.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference earlier this week, Howe was hopeful midfielders Joelinton and Joe Willock would be fit to feature, despite sustaining injuries in outings against Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively, earlier this month. Swedish defender Emil Krafth is a long-term absentee.