Manchester United bring to an end a wretched first half of the 2024/25 campaign on Monday night when they face Newcastle United at Old Trafford.

United may have captured the FA Cup back in May, but 2024 is undoubtedly a year the club are keen to forget.

A three-game losing run means the Red Devils are out of the Carabao Cup and languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table. In short, things are bleak for Ruben Amorim at the start of his tenure and there are few signs of respite.

The free-scoring Newcastle are up next for the Red Devils, and here’s the team Amorim could pick to face the Magpies in their final outing of the calendar year.

GK: Andre Onana – Onana had been enjoying a fairly serene 2024, but a couple of high-profile errors have suddenly thrust his long-term United future into doubt. The club has nobody in reserve capable of competing with the current number one.

CB: Leny Yoro – Yoro has been eased into his debut campaign having recovered from a foot fracture, and there have doubtlessly been a few positive signs amid United’s woes.

CB: Harry Maguire – Maguire has been preferred to Matthijs de Ligt at the heart of United’s back three, and that’s unlikely to change for Newcastle’s visit. The Englishman will see plenty of the red-hot Alexander Isak.

CB: Lisandro Martinez – The Argentine is a great fit for this role on paper, but Martinez has so far struggled in his second season at Old Trafford. Still, there’s no one to come in for him.

RWB: Noussair Mazraoui – Mazraoui has been a bright spark this term, but there are valid concerns over his suitability as a wing-back.

CM: Casemiro – The veteran midfielder hasn’t played all that much since Amorim was appointed but the Portuguese coach will likely turn to Casemiro on Monday with Manuel Ugarte suspended.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo – It’s been a quiet period for Mainoo, who boasts a profile unique to the club’s current midfield options. He’s a key figure in the engine room, even though the youngster hasn’t stood out quite as much compared to when he burst onto the scene.

LWB: Diogo Dalot – The Red Devils require an overhaul across the board, but this is surely a position Amorim will aim to upgrade at the first available opportunity. The right-footed Dalot has featured heavily for the new manager.

AM: Amad Diallo – Some would argue that Amad would be better served in a wing-back role, but Amorim has utilised the Ivorian in his front three since exiling Marcus Rashford.

AM: Joshua Zirkzee – With Bruno Fernandes suspended, Zirkzee could be used as a between-the-lines facilitator. The Dutchman could be a decent fit for this role given his skillset.

ST: Rasmus Hojlund – Amorim has quickly realised that Hojlund is no Viktor Gyokeres, but he hasn’t got too much choice but to stick with the young Dane – especially if he uses Zirkzee a little deeper. The 21-year-old has just two Premier League goals to his name this term.

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP