Michael Owen has predicted Newcastle United to get a draw against Manchester United when the two Premier League sides clash on Sunday.
The retired forward, who played for both sides during his playing career, shared that he was backing Steve Bruce’s side to get a draw despite them struggling to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Owen added that he thought Manchester United lacked the quality you’d associate with the club and admitted it was worrying times at both St James Park and Old Trafford.
“Newcastle failed to have a shot on target in their 5-0 drubbing at the King Power on Sunday although they did play much of the game with 10-men following the red card given to Isaac Hayden,” wrote Owen on his BetVictor blog.
“The Magpies are struggling to create opportunities, but I think they will get a draw against Manchester United in what promises to be a nervous, edgy St James’ Park on Sunday.
“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did get a draw at home to Arsenal earlier in the week and there was no lack of effort from the hosts, but they lack the quality that you associate with the club and these are worrying times, arguably, for both these famous clubs.”
OPINION
Newcastle may sit 19th in the table, may have just been ripped apart by Leicester City, may have only managed a woeful four goals in their opening league games but apparently Owen believes this is the season where the Magpies are capable of denying Manchester United all three points during their visit to St James Park. Out of the last five meetings between the two famous clubs at St James Park, Manchester United have won three of the matches despite being the travelling party (Source:11vs11.com) and when you consider that the Reds Devils haven’t been in glorious form for many seasons, it’s says a lot that their record against the Magpies is still a positive. So with that in mind, you feel Owen backing Newcastle for the draw is more of a reflection of how poorly he currently rates Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. Man United currently sit 10th in the league and by their standards, the alarm bells are going off and every member of their squad is being questioned over whether they’re good enough to make the grade at the club. If they don’t get maximum points against Newcastle, then you feel a few Man United players may end up making staff and fans alike think they’re not good enough for Solskjaer’s squad.