Having put in a commendable performance against the mighty Bayern Munich, David Moyes will hope to ride on that positive wave when Manchester United visit Newcastle United in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for a 3 pm BST (7.30 pm IST, 10 am ET) start with live coverage on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD1 in India. The action can also be watched online via live streaming in India HERE. Catch the action in the US HERE, while UK viewers can listen to the match live HERE or HERE. The game can be live streamed by Canada viewers HERE, while Australia viewers can do so HERE. The match can be watched live online in the Middle East and North Africa HERE, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can catch the action HERE. Latin America viewers can live stream the action HERE, while the audience in Brazil can view the match HERE.
The Red Devils are pretty much out of the reckoning for a top-four place, with ten points separating them from fourth-placed Arsenal. However, a victory over Newcastle at St. James' Park at the weekend will give United a big lift going into the second leg at the Allianz Arena against Bayern, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1.
"My focus is only on Newcastle," Moyes said. "It's important to keep trying to build some momentum and get the three points. We also have an extra day's recovery this week, as we play Bayern on Wednesday.
"The message to the players is the next game is the most important one and that's Newcastle."
Newcastle are not too far behind United at the moment, with only eight points separating the two sides. The Magpies can cut that deficit to five with a victory in front of their home fans on Saturday.
Manager Alan Pardew will also be doubly determined to take away a positive result, after being rolled over by Southampton 4-0 last weekend.
"We're all very much aware of the performance at Southampton not being good enough for this club, and we'll do our very best this Saturday to put a performance in that is worthy," Pardew said.
"It's difficult, because Manchester United have had a little upsurge, particularly with the result against Munich where they were terrific, and they'll bring that bounce and that step to our place.
"Obviously we're off the back of a really poor result and performance, so you have to say that everything points to them to win this game, and it's up to us to make sure that we can turn that round."
The last time the two teams met in the Premier League, Newcastle pulled off an outstanding 1-0 win at Old Trafford, one of many disappointments for the home side at home this season. However, that goal came via the boot of the excellent Yohan Cabaye, who is now a part of the PSG squad trying to go all the way in the Champions League.
Newcastle have struggled at time for creativity and that extra bit of quality following Cabaye's departure in January, but Pardew will target a similar performance to the one in December, hoping for another big win.
Team news: Newcastle: Pardew has a few key players unavailable, with goalkeeper Tim Krul (shoulder), defender Mathieu Debuchy (groin), midfielder Moussa Sissoko (thigh) and forwards Loic Remy (ankle) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) all ruled out, while Ryan Taylor and Gabriel Obertan remain sidelined.
Manchester United: Wayne Rooney will miss the Newcastle game with a toe injury, and the forward is a doubt for the return leg against Bayern as well. "Wayne's got a badly bruised toe," Moyes told MUTV. "He picked it up in the game the other night.
"Whether we were going to play him or rest him, it doesn't matter. He's got a terrible toe and not only will it be a problem for this game, it could be a problem for the Munich game as well on Wednesday. So we need to monitor it. We'll get him treatment all over the weekend and see if we can speed it up."
Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, though, could feature after returning to training, and with it easing Moyes' defensive worries, but striker Robin Van Persie is still out with a knee injury, while Ryan Giggs is also likely to miss out after picking up a knock in the 1-1 draw against Bayern.
Expected lineups: Newcastle: Elliot; Taylor, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara; Yanga-Mbiwa, Tiote; Ben Arfa, Ben Arfa, Anita, Gouffran; Cisse.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Vidic, Evra; Fellaini, Fletcher; Young, Mata, Kagawa; Welbeck.
