Newcastle United draw closer to Champions League berth as Man United visit

LONDON – Newcastle United can take a step towards qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons on April 13, when they host a Manchester United side eyeing on their own European obligations.

Newcastle enter the weekend tied with Chelsea on 53 points. They also have a match in hand due to their League Cup final victory over Liverpool.

With the Premier League officially securing a fifth berth in next season’s Champions League earlier this week based on the league’s European performances this term, the Magpies should fancy their chances in a race for fifth that will also include Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Newcastle go into the encounter having won four in a row – including three straight in the league. Those wins came despite only one goal from Swedish international Alexander Isak, whose 20-goal tally is third-best in the Premier League.

But the Magpies could be without manager Eddie Howe on Sunday because he has battled illness most of the week. In his place, assistant coach Jason Tindall reiterated they are taking nothing for granted.

“With eight games to go, there are a lot of teams fighting for the same as what we are,” Tindall said. “All we can control is our own performances and what we do.”

Meanwhile, the Red Devils enter the clash either side of their two-legged Europa League quarter-final against Lyon. The English side earned a 2-2 draw in the first leg in France on April 10.

With manager Ruben Amorim’s 13th-placed side squarely out of contention for European spots this term, the priority has to be on the April 17 return leg.

However, Amorim said they do not have enough squad depth to make wholesale changes. In the 2016-17 season, Jose Mourinho went for heavy rotation in the Premier