Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner believes that his side will be in for a big test when they face Newcastle United in their first competitive game of the new year.
The Magpies provide the opposition for an Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round tie at the Leigh Sports Village on Sunday 14 January 2023.
Newcastle United are on the verge of reaching the elite game with the Tynesiders currently five points clear at the top of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division table. The Manchester United game will be their first test against top tier opposition.
When speaking in a recent Manchester United press conference, head coach Skinner said that he expects Newcastle United to make a real game of it in Leigh.
“I think it’ll be a great game,” Skinner said. “I’m not sure about how many fans Newcastle have been taking away but I know that they have a passionate fanbase.
“They are clearly building something up there, they want to be in and around WSL football within the next few years. They’re trying to build a project that I’m sure they are finding exciting.
“I think it’ll be a really good game and one that we are looking forward to.”
Manchester United achieved a new milestone themselves in last season’s competition when they qualified for a first-ever Adobe Women’s FA Cup final. The Red Devils lost out to Chelsea at Wembley but Skinner says that the aim is to return to the national stadium this season.
He said “We progressed to the final last year, so we want to have another run at that and try to get back there. I’ve not played Newcastle in my managerial career, so it’ll be a new experience but we will prepare like we do for any other game.
“It’ll be a big game but it’s something that we have to look to progress through. It’ll not be easy at all; they’ll come and make a real game of it, so we will have to be at our very best.”
Manchester United’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Newcastle United is scheduled to kick-off at 12pm on Sunday 14 January 2024. Tickets remain on-sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
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