Newcastle will be without at least three key players for the visit of Manchester United on December 27.
The Magpies go into the clash on the back of three straight defeats as their defensive struggles continue.
Manchester City bagged four in their triumph at St James' Park last time out, Eddie Howe now facing an enormous task to keep Newcastle in the Premier League this season.
Ralf Rangnick's side travel to Tyneside for their first competitive fixture in 16 days after an outbreak in the camp saw the postponement of clashes against Brentford and Brighton.
Champions League qualification is still in sight for United this season, with Rangnick's side knowing if they win their games in hand, they would jump in the top four for the first time since October.
And Howe has a number of casualties and a handful of players set to undergo late fitness tests before the United game.
Federico Fernandez will miss the visit of the 20-time winners after suffering a thigh injury and for Newcastle, it means he could miss the entirety of the festive fixtures and most of January.
The 44-year-old said via the Chronicle : "It's a difficult one to put a timescale on but it's weeks rather than months. We'll wait and see how he responds. He's definitely going to be out of the Christmas period and most of January but he's working hard and improving every day."
Defensive partner, Jamal Lewis, will also be sidelined for Monday's clash. Although the severity of his thigh problem isn't the same as Fernandez's, he will miss the clash with United and the Christmas run-in.
Paul Dummett has been a long-term absentee for the Toon Army but he did make his first steps in his bid to regain full fitness after training with the squad on Wednesday.
Isaac Hayden will be forced to watch on from the sidelines after picking up his fifth booking of the season whilst Jonjo Shelvey faces a late fitness test.
The former Swansea midfielder scored against Liverpool but missed the defeat to City. On Shelvey, Howe said: "He hasn’t trained with the group yet, we hope to have him back very soon. He’s such an important player for us in many different ways that we need to keep him fit."
Javier Manquillo, who scored in the reverse fixture, and Emil Krafth are both doubts after coming down with a common cold with Howe confirming they were not COVID cases.
Newcastle Predicted XI: Dubravka, Ritchie, Schar, Lascelles, Murphy, Fraser, Joelinton, Longstaff, Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Wilson.
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