What the papers say
Paris St-Germain are watching developments with Marcus Rashford at Manchester United. According to the i, the French club could rekindle their interest in the England forward, 26.
Armando Broja, 22, is being lined up by Fulham for a move ahead of the transfer deadline. But they are yet to approach Chelsea’s £50million valuation for the Albania striker, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals could be the next player to leave West Ham, reports the Daily Mail. The 27-year-old is close to sealing a move to Real Betis.
West Ham are looking at Portuguese winger Jota, 24, from Al-Ittihad to replace the outgoing Said Benrahma, according to the Daily Mirror. The Hammers are fending off interest from Wolves and Crystal Palace for England striker Danny Ings, 31.
Social media round-upPlayers to watch
Bryan Gil: Brighton are in talks with Tottenham over a loan move for the out-of-favour Spain midfielder, 22, according to the Daily Mail.
Amad Diallo: The Ivory Coast winger, 19, is keen on a return to Sunderland on loan from Manchester United, reports Football Insider.
Marcus Rashford is not the first player to have fallen short of disciplinarian Erik ten Hag’s standards at Manchester United.
The 26-year-old was this week subject of “internal disciplinary” proceedings after he reportedly went out in Belfast last Thursday night and failed to train the following day due to illness.
Ten Hag is sure to be asked about Rashford in his press conference on Wednesday, having already been among the players to irk the United boss since he arrived in the summer of 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The highest profile issue came with United fan favourite Ronaldo. The veteran was denied the move he wished for during Ten Hag’s first few months at the helm and, having missed the club’s pre-season tour due to a family matter, left before the end of his first friendly against Rayo Vallecano. The Dutchman continued to largely speak positively about Ronaldo in public but the mood soured in October 2022 when the frontman headed down the tunnel having refused to come on as a substitute in a win over Tottenham, leading to him being banished from the squad for the next match. The following month Ronaldo claimed to have been “betrayed” by United in an explosive, wide-ranging interview that led to his contact being terminated by mutual consent.
Alejandro Garnacho
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The teenager did not get anywhere near angering Ten Hag like his idol Ronaldo did, but he was one of the first to get a taste of his improved levels of discipline around United under the Dutchman. Fresh from starring in United’s FA Youth Cup triumph, Garnacho was dropped during the summer tour of Thailand and Australia after turning up late for meetings. The Argentina international has clearly learned his lesson, going on to become one of the star performers for United despite still only being 19.
Jadon Sancho
Sancho struggled for consistency after his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, but his first season under Ten Hag started brightly enough. The winger then did not feature from October 22 until February 1 – a period that included an individual winter fitness programme in the Netherlands – but returned to help United win the Carabao Cup. However, things went dramatically awry in September 2023, when Sancho claimed on social media that he had been made a “scapegoat” after the Dutchman said he omitted him from a matchday squad due to his training levels. Sancho was banished from the first-team and this month rejoined Dortmund on loan.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford was dropped to the bench at Wolves last season for timekeeping, but that was quickly put to bed by all parties after he came on to score the winner. More problematic has been some of his off-field decision-making this season. Rashford went to a nightclub party after October’s embarrassing 3-0 home derby defeat to Manchester City – something Ten Hag called “unacceptable”. Now stories have emerged that he went out in Belfast on Thursday night, before reporting ill the following day and missing training. Rashford missed Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport and a club statement on Tuesday read: “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has urged Marcus Rashford to think carefully about his “choices and timing” after the forward’s reported Belfast escapades led to an internal disciplinary.
The homegrown 26-year-old has performed poorly this season, scoring just four times, and the England international’s decision-making away from the pitch has also come under scrutiny.
Rashford went to a nightclub party after October’s embarrassing 3-0 home derby defeat to Manchester City – something his manager Erik ten Hag went on to call “unacceptable”.
The United academy product is back under the microscope after reportedly spending Thursday night in a Belfast nightclub, where he apparently stayed out until 3am before flying back to Manchester.
Ten Hag said the following day that Rashford was unable to train as he “was ill” and, having missed Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport, the club said in a statement that “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions”.
United called it an “internal disciplinary matter” that it is now closed, with former skipper Neville – Rashford’s former coach with England – hoping he learns from this experience.
“To me, going out for a drink or going out for a night out is something that every football player should do and will do, so I’ve got no problem with that whatsoever,” he said.
“They need to enjoy themselves. It’s just all about choices and timing.
“I said this after the Manchester City game. We got beat home by City a few months ago and he went out last night to Chinawhite. I think it was for his birthday.
“I think we had a game against Newcastle on the Wednesday in the Carabao Cup or something like that and I just said ‘look, choose your time’.
“I think Manchester United have just had a winter break. They’ve had a couple of weeks off, so there was a better moment for him to choose to go out.
“So, I would say go out, have your moment where you relax with your friends, but just your timing’s got to be right.”
United say Rashford is back in training and available for selection for Thursday’s Premier League match at Wolves after days of unwanted headlines.
Manager Ten Hag is sure be quizzed on the matter at his pre-match press conference scheduled for Wednesday lunchtime.
Asked what former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would have done with Rashford, Neville told the BBC: “He would have given him a dressing down.
“But he would have said similar things – make sure you do it at the right moments, the right time.
“No-one ever says to a football player ‘you cannot go out’ but obviously when you’ve got a game three days later… Marcus himself knows.
“He’s an experienced player, we’re not talking about a young lad, but he’s done it a couple of times in the last few months.
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“I’ve always seen Marcus as being really responsible, a good professional, someone who works hard every single day and, look, he’s going through a dip in form at this moment in time.
“But it’s happened once, it’s now happened twice, and it sometimes can become your personality if you’re not careful.
“If you do it too many times, people can start to say ‘well, what’s happening in his life?’
“So, he just needs to relax, calm down, drink a bit of cacao, choose when to go out and get back to playing football at the levels which we know he can.”
What the papers say
Conor Gallagher could make a move across London as the end of the January transfer window looms. According to The Times, Tottenham are weighing up a potential bid for Chelsea’s England midfielder, 23.
Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri, 22, could be heading for a spell away from Old Trafford. Spanish club Granada have revived plans for a loan move for the Uruguay international, reports the Manchester Evening News.
West Ham have turned their attention to Portuguese winger Jota, 24, from Al-Ittihad, according to the Evening Standard. Hammers talks with FC Nordsjaelland over Ghanaian forward Ibrahim Osman, 19, have stalled.
Leeds have made an offer to Everton for Ben Godfrey, reports The Sun. The Championship club are looking to take the England international defender, 26, on loan.
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Jacob Ramsey: Newcastle, Tottenham and Bayern Munich are interested in the 22-year-old midfielder, with Aston Villa considering a sale to comply with financial regulations, reports The Athletic.
Chuba Akpom: Everton and Luton are keen on signing the English forward, 28, on loan from Ajax, says Teamtalk.
Manchester United say Marcus Rashford “has taken responsibility for his actions” after his omission from the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport.
Rashford was left out due to illness after reportedly spending Thursday night in a Belfast nightclub, but United say the issue has now been resolved.
United said in a statement: “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”
Rashford has returned to training and is understood to be in contention for Thursday night’s Premier League trip to Wolves.
United boss Erik ten Hag had sought to deflect the attention on Rashford’s absence on Sunday, simply stressing that it was “internal matter”.
Ten Hag had previously criticised Rashford’s “unacceptable” decision to attend a nightclub shortly after United’s 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City in November.
Erik ten Hag says he can finally select his strongest Manchester United team for the first time during his two-year Old Trafford reign.
United return to Premier League action at Wolves on Thursday buoyed by Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw all getting game time in Sunday’s 4-2 FA Cup win at Newport after being injured for much of the season.
It was the first time the trio had started together since the second game of the season at Tottenham in August.
Harry Maguire also made a late cameo from the bench in South Wales – his first appearance since December 12 following a groin problem – while Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana will be available at Molineux after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Whether Marcus Rashford will feature against Wolves after missing the Newport cup tie remains to be seen.
Rashford reported ill on Friday after reportedly spending the previous evening at a Belfast nightclub, with Ten Hag declaring the issue an “internal matter” that he would deal with.
But asked if the Wolves game could be the first time he played his strongest team, Ten Hag said: “It could be, potentially yeah.
“Maybe for the first time as long as I was manager that we can pick a team from a squad that is probably the strongest.”
On the return of key players, Ten Hag added: “I believe it is very important. Now they have to step up to match fitness 100 per cent.
“This game definitely helped, but we know also when we go into the Premier League the intensity is higher and they are forced to high levels.
“They had minutes in the week against Burnley. Now they have more minutes.
“This game was very helpful to make the next step and to be ready for Thursday.”
Antony scored in the 3-1 midweek friendly defeat to Burnley, which was played behind closed doors at United’s Carrington training ground.
The Brazilian followed that up by setting up Bruno Fernandes for the opener in Newport before ending a 31-game scoreless streak stretching back to last April when he made it 3-2.
Ten Hag said: “Antony had the assist on the first goal for Bruno and a goal.
“So end product, that is what we demand from him.
“The rest of his job should also be proper and that was the case.”
Newport manager Graham Coughlan, a United fan, admitted he was dreaming of an Old Trafford replay after the Exiles fought back from 2-0 down to level just after the break.
That money-spinning return was not to be as United booked a fifth-round date at Bristol City or Nottingham Forest, but the Irishman believes a memorable cup run can spark Newport’s bid to climb from 16th in Sky Bet League Two.
Coughlan said: “I don’t want this to be nearly, I want it to be the catalyst and the start of a little push, to gather as many points as we can before now and the end of the season.
“We’ve had a real tough time at the club with injuries, but we’ve got a few coming back.
“We can take that performance, that character and that resilience and build on it.”
Former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic announced his retirement from football on this day in 2016.
He arrived at Old Trafford in the 2005/06 season from Spartak Moscow and became a stalwart at the heart of the United defence alongside Rio Ferdinand.
Vidic’s time with the club saw him win the Champions League in 2008 along with five Premier League titles.
He then moved to Inter Milan in 2014 and played 28 times for the club, with hernia and back injuries affecting the later stages of his career.
Vidic represented Serbia on the international stage and made 56 appearances for his country.
“The time has come for me to hang up my boots,” he told the United website.
“The injuries I have had in the last few years have taken their toll.
“I would like to thank all the players I have played with, all the managers and staff I have worked with, and say a big ‘thank you’ to the fans for their support over the years.”
Erik ten Hag promised to deal with the absence of Marcus Rashford after the England striker missed Manchester United’s 4-2 FA Cup victory at Newport.
Rashford reported ill on Friday after reportedly spending the previous evening at a Belfast nightclub.
“He reported ill,” United boss Ten Hag said after watching his side survive a massive fright in South Wales as League Two Newport fought back to 2-2 after conceding twice inside the opening 13 minutes.
“The rest is internal matter. I deal with it, we will deal with it.”
Ten Hag said there was a “no good culture” when he arrived at United in 2022 and he has encountered disciplinary issues during his Old Trafford tenure.
United misfit Jadon Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan earlier this month after falling out with the Dutchman.
Asked if Rashford was another example of that “no good culture”, Ten Hag said: “I don’t go in this case. We talked before about it, we played a good game, and now we move on.”
United established early command against opponents 76 places below them in the pyramid, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo – with his first senior goal – producing excellent strikes.
But Bryn Morris and Will Evans scored either side of half-time and United were in danger of becoming victims of a seismic giant-killing act before Antony and Rasmus Hojlund struck in the final quarter.
Ten Hag said: “The first 35 minutes it was very dominant. We did not give the opponent any chance and should have been three, four, five-nil up.
“Out of nothing they score a goal and straight after half-time again.
“We have to be critical of bad defending in transition. Poor defending from the cross, it’s 2-2, and they turned it around.
“But you see how resilient we are. We stayed calm, went back in our game, got the third and fourth goal, so job done.”
Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw were all back in the starting line-up after injury, while Harry Maguire made a late cameo for his first appearance since December 12.
“I know the character from Licha (Martinez), Casemiro, Luke Shaw, (Raphael) Varane, Bruno, Antony, (Alejandro) Garnacho, Hojlund. All fighters,” Ten Hag added.
“Sometimes you are in this situation. It was a bad pitch, but we totally dominated them for 35 minutes.”
Newport belied their lowly standing of 16th place in the fourth tier with a committed performance sprinkled with some attacking moments of real quality.
Exiles boss Graham Coughlan revealed Ten Hag had given him “a nice little bottle of red wine” after the game, and admitted that he was contemplating a major upset after United had been pegged back.
Coughlan said: “I was dreaming at two-all. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb first 10 or 15 minutes.
“You can’t start a football game like that against that quality of opposition.
“They hit us hard, they were clinical and we learned quickly what the Premiership is all about in that first 10 or 15 minutes.”
On United’s late show costing County a lucrative replay, Coughlan added: “It was just unfortunate we couldn’t reach our cup final and go back to Old Trafford.
“I thought we had them at two-all. They were rattled. They could have gone under, and that’s a strange thing for a League Two manager to say.
“But the Premier League class shone through, so full credit to United.”
Erik ten Hag’s blushes were spared as Manchester United edged out Newport in the FA Cup fourth round on a day when crowd trouble marred the Black Country derby.
United raced into a two-goal lead at Rodney Parade as Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo struck inside the opening 13 minutes.
Sky Bet League Two side Newport battled back as a long-range deflected Bryn Morris effort halved the deficit before the break and Will Evans levelled two minutes after the restart.
But a strong United side fought back as Antony’s first goal of the season and a stoppage-time Rasmus Hojlund effort earned a 4-2 win.
The Football Association has launched a swift investigation as play was suspended during Wolves’ visit to rivals West Brom.
Play at The Hawthorns was stopped for more than half an hour after ugly scenes broke out in the stands and fans spilled onto the pitch.
West Midlands Police confirmed two arrests were made following the second-half disorder and one person was taken to hospital with head injuries.
Once play got back under way, Matheus Cunha’s goal secured a 2-0 win for the visitors after Pedro Neto had broken the deadlock in the first half.
Liverpool eventually cruised to a 5-2 victory over Norwich in their first outing since manager Jurgen Klopp announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.
Curtis Jones headed the Premier League leaders in front before Norwich levelled out of nowhere through Ben Gibson, only for Darwin Nunez to restore the Reds’ advantage.
Diogo Jota and Virgil van Dijk pulled Liverpool further clear and Ryan Gravenberch wrapped up the win after a stunning Borja Sainz effort had given the Canaries slim hope of a comeback.
United will face the winner of the replay between Bristol City and Nottingham Forest in the next round, while Wolves host Brighton.
Meanwhile, Liverpool welcome either Watford or Southampton – who drew 1-1 at Vicarage Road after Stuart Armstrong’s late leveller for Saints cancelled out Matheus Martins’ fifth-minute free-kick.
Manchester United survived a huge FA Cup fright to win 4-2 at Newport after the Welsh minnows levelled having been two goals down.
Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo – with his first United goal – struck inside the opening 13 minutes and safe passage into the fifth round seemed inevitable.
But Newport shook Rodney Parade to its rafters as Bryn Morris and Will Evans levelled and made light of the 76 rungs between the two clubs on the football ladder.
United’s troubled season was in danger of sinking to a new low, but a last-16 date at Bristol City or Nottingham Forest was eventually secured as Antony scored for the first time since last April and Rasmus Hojlund sealed matters in stoppage time.
The first competitive game between the two clubs had been billed as the biggest in Newport’s history, with just over 9,000 crammed into modest surrounds for a tie expected to earn the League Two club around £400,000.
But County’s recent cup pedigree – wins over Leicester and Leeds, as well as holding Tottenham to a Rodney Parade draw in 2018 – and a seven-game unbeaten run put United on notice they could not expect a smooth ride by the banks of the River Usk.
Erik ten Hag could almost feel the breath of home supporters standing just yards behind him and there was little space on the pitch either during a frantic opening.
There was no Marcus Rashford in the United squad with the England striker having reported ill on Friday after reportedly spending the previous evening at a Belfast nightclub.
Ten Hag said before kick-off that Rashford’s absence was an “internal matter” and that he would “deal with it”.
Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir came in for his debut with regular number one Andre Onana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
But United were stronger – at least on paper – for some time with Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw back in the starting line-up, while Harry Maguire was on the bench after suffering a groin injury on December 12.
Newport named the same side which had accounted for Eastleigh in round three with the presence of former farmer Evans, their United-supporting 18-goal marksman, presenting the kind of charming storyline the FA Cup tends to supply.
Fernandes did his best to remove the romance after seven minutes when receiving a ball from Shaw and finding Antony.
The Brazilian played an instant return and Fernandes drilled a shot of rare purity past Nick Townsend within the blink of an eye.
County fans, raucous at kick-off, were silenced and left despairing again as Diogo Dalot motored down the right to set up 18-year-old Mainoo, who carefully caressed his finish into the bottom corner.
Alejandro Garnacho might have made it worse but rattled the crossbar and Antony drifted in from the right flank to force Townsend to tip over.
Newport kept Bayindir honest with efforts from Evans and Ryan Delaney, but Morris’ 36th-minute thunderbolt really came out of the blue.
Morris, at Grimsby when the Mariners reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last season, chested the ball down and unleashed from 25 yards to beat Bayindir with the help of a deflection off Martinez.
Townsend denied Fernandes with the final kick of the first half and the importance of that save was underlined within two minutes of the restart.
Adam Lewis crossed and Evans stole in front of Raphael Varane to level with an outstretched foot.
With it becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish who was the Premier League side, and Ten Hag being reminded of his employment prospects in the morning, Bayindir held Delaney’s header under his own bar.
Harry Charsley drove wide, but United re-took the lead after 68 minutes as Shaw curled on to a post and Antony slotted the rebound.
Maguire was sent on late to preserve United’s slender lead before Hojlund extended his scoring streak by pouncing on a loose ball and drilling home.
Newport striker Will Evans has gone from milking cows on the family farm to scoring FA Cup goals – and now has boyhood heroes Manchester United in his sights.
United fan Evans meets the Red Devils on Sunday as Newport – 74 places below their visitors in the football pyramid and financial worlds apart – seek to produce one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s 152-year history.
It will cap an extraordinary journey that has taken Evans from the Powys family farm, rejection at Shrewsbury, and European football at two Welsh Premiership clubs before he finally landed his EFL break at Newport.
“Most kids come home from school and play football in the garden,” Evans said of his formative years at the Llangedwyn farm on the English-Welsh border near Oswestry.
“I’d come home and get the cows ready to be milked. There’s a lot of them too as dad’s got about 1,100 milking cows.
“Mucking out was punishment if I was misbehaving or in my parents’ bad books. It wasn’t something I ever wanted to do, I always wanted to study or go out and play football.”
While brothers James and Josh would end up joining the family business, Evans started out on a football path that saw him spend six years at Shrewsbury’s youth system between the ages of nine and 15.
Evans was eventually released by Shrewsbury and went to Cardiff Metropolitan University, studying a degree in sports coaching and playing in the Europa League.
He spent five years in Cardiff before the Covid pandemic struck in 2020 and returned to life on the farm, joining nearby Bala when football restarted and again playing in Europe.
Two goals in a 4-0 victory for Wales C against England eventually launched his career.
“The dream died after leaving Shrewsbury, it was basically a reset,” said Evans, now 26.
“But going to Uni allowed me to fall in love with football again. I did well in Cardiff and at Bala, but after that Wales C game my phone was constantly ringing.
“I had calls from agents all over Europe – I don’t how people got my number – but then James Rowberry, the Newport manager, rang me and said ‘Are you free to come down tomorrow?’
“He said he thought I could fit into their system and it’s been an amazing 18 months.”
Evans was signed as a central striker but often deployed as a wing-back during his first season at Newport.
Since reverting to his customary forward role has scored 18 goals this term, including one in the third-round replay win at Eastleigh that secured County’s £400,000 pay day against United.
Current Exiles boss Graham Coughlan has insisted Evans’ form merits a call up to Rob Page’s Wales squad.
“I would have bitten your hand off to be in this position 18 months ago,” Evans said.
“I’m a massive United fan and used to go there a lot when I was a kid.
“I’ve got some really fond memories of going to Old Trafford and I’m a good friend of Eric Ramsay (United assistant manager).
“I can’t put into words what it will be like walking out to play against them.
“I’m just enjoying my football right now and don’t know what will happen in the future. But I’m not going back to the farm. It’s not happening.”
Erik ten Hag says financial fair play restrictions will prevent Manchester United from acting in the January transfer window to fill the “gap” in attack left by Anthony Martial’s extended absence.
This has been a quiet month across the board and the Red Devils have focused on streamlining the squad rather than bolstering it.
Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek and Hannibal Mejbri are among those to have left on loan, with United always expected to do little to nothing in terms of signings.
And not even the fact that Martial has been ruled out until April after undergoing surgery on a groin injury is likely to change things due to Premier League profit and sustainability rules.
“I looked but there is no space,” United boss Ten Hag said. “No space on FFP to do something about this lack of quantity in the striker position.
“Of course, we have (Marcus) Rashford who can play as a striker, I think also we have some other alternatives, creative.
“It’s clear now Anthony is out for a couple of months. It’s a gap in our squad. Clear.”
Ten Hag was speaking to the media for the first time in a fortnight – a period in which United raised eyebrows by coaxing Omar Berrada from rivals Manchester City as their new chief executive.
The move was driven by Ineos as British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to become minority owner and take control of football operations at United, where there is a renewed drive to improve across the board.
“It gives spirit in this whole club,” Ten Hag said of the impact felt even before Ratcliffe’s deal is given the green light.
“Everyone notices that this club is going into a period of changes but it’s because we want to achieve high targets, so standards have to change.
“We started with this one-and-a-half-years ago, but I’m sure Ineos and me are very aligned on this.
“We understand we have to change, and we started that process last season with the dressing room.
“But also many departments so I am very happy that I get support.
“That also other departments has to raise the standards, to collaborate more and Ineos can have a big impact on that.”
The long-term prospects look brighter but United’s immediate attention is on keeping their FA Cup hopes alive in a fourth-round tie at Newport.
It is the only competition the Red Devils can win this season and Sunday’s game will see summer signing Altay Bayindir finally make his debut between the sticks.
“Yeah, he will be in the goal,” Ten Hag said of the former Fenerbahce goalkeeper.
“I think it’s clear what we can expect from him. He waited for his chances but he is experienced.
“He played in a big club in Turkey under big pressure, so he knows how to deal with it.
“We were all very convinced when we brought him into this club. It’s not a decision from one man.
“We’re looking forward to Sunday. Altay, very motivated of course and he can’t wait for this moment.”
Liverpool loanee Adam Lewis has been flooded with messages to send Manchester United out of the FA Cup at Newport and says he has been in contact with “good mate” Mason Mount about it.
Left-back Lewis is in his second temporary spell at League Two Newport and will be thrust into the spotlight on Sunday when United make their first trip to Rodney Parade for a fourth round tie.
Ever since Newport eased past Eastleigh in their third-round replay, Lewis says his phone has not stopped pinging with messages from his native Merseyside insisting Liverpool’s bitter rivals are dumped out of the cup.
“I’ve had tons of messages this week saying ‘Get stuck into them’ and make sure you win,” said the 24-year-old, who has had previous loan spells at Livingston, Plymouth and Amiens in France.
“I’m just waiting for one off the boss (Jurgen Klopp) now, he might drop me one hopefully before Sunday.
“I’ve played with (United midfielder) Mason Mount a lot at international level with England, from the under-16s through to the under-19s.
“He’s a good mate of mine and I spoke to him the other day to see if he was playing. I was trying to get some inside information, but he wasn’t giving me any.”
Lewis grew up in Walton close to Liverpool’s home Anfield and chose to join his boyhood heroes over neighbours Everton at the age of six.
He played in the same Croxteth Park Sunday League team and went to the same Rainhill High School as Trent Alexander-Arnold – “I always knew he was going to be a player, being captain of the Under-18s when he was about 15 or 16 says it all” – and made his way through the various youth groups at Anfield.
Lewis is certainty no stranger to Liverpool-United games and the intensity the fixture brings.
He said: “It was always good to beat them because even at youth level that rivalry is always there.
“I remember when Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were playing for Liverpool and the tackles they were throwing in.
“It just works its way down from the first team – and you feel you want to be like that.
“To play against them professionally when it matters is more important. United are one of the biggest teams in the world, even though I hate to say that, but you’ve got to believe you can win.
“It’s the FA Cup for a reason and there’s always upsets. Look at how far Grimsby got last year.”
Whatever happens at Rodney Parade, Lewis is hoping to make one trip to Wembley this season after Liverpool reached next month’s Carabao Cup final.
“I was part of pre-season and there with the team when we got beat on penalties in the Community Shield by Manchester City (in 2019),” said Lewis.
“I haven’t been to a game for some while now because I’ve been down in Newport. But it would be great to get there and see us win another trophy.”
Newport manager Graham Coughlan admits Erik ten Hag is in the FA Cup firing line and warned Manchester United to expect a “unique and hostile” atmosphere at Rodney Parade.
United meet League Two County for the first time in their history in Sunday’s fourth-round tie, with 74 places between them in the football pyramid and millions of pounds on their respective balance sheets.
Yet Rodney Parade’s tight confines and a crowd of just under 10,000 will welcome United with Ten Hag, during a dismal season at Old Trafford, under pressure to progress in the only competition the Red Devils have a chance left of winning.
“It’s part of the job. He knows what he signed up for. We all do,” CoughIan said of the scrutiny the Dutchman will face in South Wales just weeks after Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in United.
“When you put yourself in the firing line, there are going to be bullets flying and coming your way.
“You’ve got to know how to handle that.”
Addressing the pressure and strains of management, Dubliner Coughlan – a self-confessed United fan who has previously been at Bristol Rovers and Mansfield – “I’ve been in his shoes. I’ve been there and got the T-shirt.
“He’ll come through it. He’ll be experienced enough to come through it. He has good people around him and that will be the key.
“You do go through tough times and difficult periods, but hopefully they get to grips with it by getting a bit of leadership into the football club.”
Newport – who on Wednesday saw former Swansea chairman and owner Huw Jenkins complete his £500,000 takeover to become the club’s majority shareholder – have been in fine form on the pitch.
County have embarked on a seven-game unbeaten run and are on a high after beating Welsh rivals Wrexham last weekend.
The Exiles have also been FA Cup giant-killers in recent times, beating both Leicester, Leeds and Middlesbrough at Rodney Parade while holding Tottenham to a fourth-round draw before losing a Wembley replay.
Coughlan said: “Surprisingly everybody fit, there’s been a few miraculous recoveries.
“They probably studied the Wrexham game and what would have come through would have the atmosphere and the noise of our fans.
“Irrespective this season whether we’ve been winning, losing or drawing, our fans have got right behind us and at times dragged us over the line.
“That’s unique and a strength of this football club and community.
“You can hear everything (on the touchline), sometimes you don’t want to, because they’re that close. They’re on top of you and it’s a unique atmosphere.
“It is hostile, it is noisy, and when they start beating that drum it’s an atmosphere to savour.”
United have not played since a 2-2 home draw with Tottenham on January 14, and Coughlan joked Ten Hag’s squad had probably been sunning themselves in the Caribbean while his players had been “slogging it out” in the British winter.
“They’ll be well rested and sun tanned,” laughed Coughlan.
“They would have been in the Caribbean while we’ve been slogging it out in the wind and rain.
“It’s the Premier League, that’s privileges when you get to that level.
“But I don’t think that will make a difference. They’ll be fresh with the little break they’ve had, and we’re going up against an elite football club and a top group of Premier League and international players.
“Athletes, machines – call them what you want – we’ve got a lot on our plate and you’d anticipate Manchester United having more of the ball and creating chances.
“But we’ll have one or two moments in the game and it’s about taking those moments.”
Newport manager Graham Coughlan admits Erik ten Hag is in the FA Cup firing line and warned Manchester United to expect a “unique and hostile” atmosphere at Rodney Parade.
United meet League Two County for the first time in their history in Sunday’s fourth-round tie, with 74 places between them in the football pyramid and millions of pounds on their respective balance sheets.
Yet Rodney Parade’s tight confines and a crowd of just under 10,000 will welcome United with Ten Hag, during a dismal season at Old Trafford, under pressure to progress in the only competition the Red Devils have a chance left of winning.
“It’s part of the job. He knows what he signed up for. We all do,” CoughIan said of the scrutiny the Dutchman will face in South Wales just weeks after Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in United.
“When you put yourself in the firing line, there are going to be bullets flying and coming your way.
“You’ve got to know how to handle that.”
Addressing the pressure and strains of management, Dubliner Coughlan – a self-confessed United fan who has previously been at Bristol Rovers and Mansfield – “I’ve been in his shoes. I’ve been there and got the T-shirt.
“He’ll come through it. He’ll be experienced enough to come through it. He has good people around him and that will be the key.
“You do go through tough times and difficult periods, but hopefully they get to grips with it by getting a bit of leadership into the football club.”
Newport – who on Wednesday saw former Swansea chairman and owner Huw Jenkins complete his £500,000 takeover to become the club’s majority shareholder – have been in fine form on the pitch.
County have embarked on a seven-game unbeaten run and are on a high after beating Welsh rivals Wrexham last weekend.
The Exiles have also been FA Cup giant-killers in recent times, beating both Leicester, Leeds and Middlesbrough at Rodney Parade while holding Tottenham to a fourth-round draw before losing a Wembley replay.
Coughlan said: “Surprisingly everybody fit, there’s been a few miraculous recoveries.
“They probably studied the Wrexham game and what would have come through would have the atmosphere and the noise of our fans.
“Irrespective this season whether we’ve been winning, losing or drawing, our fans have got right behind us and at times dragged us over the line.
“That’s unique and a strength of this football club and community.
“You can hear everything (on the touchline), sometimes you don’t want to, because they’re that close. They’re on top of you and it’s a unique atmosphere.
“It is hostile, it is noisy, and when they start beating that drum it’s an atmosphere to savour.”
United have not played since a 2-2 home draw with Tottenham on January 14, and Coughlan joked Ten Hag’s squad had probably been sunning themselves in the Caribbean while his players had been “slogging it out” in the British winter.
“They’ll be well rested and sun tanned,” laughed Coughlan.
“They would have been in the Caribbean while we’ve been slogging it out in the wind and rain.
“It’s the Premier League, that’s privileges when you get to that level.
“But I don’t think that will make a difference. They’ll be fresh with the little break they’ve had, and we’re going up against an elite football club and a top group of Premier League and international players.
“Athletes, machines – call them what you want – we’ve got a lot on our plate and you’d anticipate Manchester United having more of the ball and creating chances.
“But we’ll have one or two moments in the game and it’s about taking those moments.”
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