Eddie Howe's damning 'training session' comment after Man Utd win could anger Erik ten Hag

Eddie Howe's damning "training session" comment will have further angered Erik ten Hag after his Manchester United side's 3-0 defeat to Newcastle.

After a humbling at the hands of rivals Manchester City on Sunday, United lost again at Old Trafford by the same scoreline in the Carabao Cup.

Newcastle, who didn't even have a full-strength team out, got revenge for last season's final loss at Wembley courtesy of goals from Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock.

The Magpies, having also knocked out City in the previous round, will now take on Chelsea in the quarter-finals next month.

Despite a number of big guns missing, it was almost easy for Newcastle, who were 2-0 up and comfortable at half-time.

Just four minutes after going 3-0 up through Willock, Howe brought on both Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson to add insult to injury.

Captain Kieran Trippier also entered the fray for a late cameo.

After the game, Howe was asked why he made attacking substitutions - with some wondering whether he had done it in pursuit of more goals.

Image: Getty

The former Bournemouth boss answered honestly, stating that "the intention was to give minutes to players, so they could use it as a training session".

But while he might not have meant it in such a manner, the phrase summed up the predicament United find themselves in as the game was so comfortable that Newcastle were able to bring on their subs for a bit of training ahead of a huge clash with Arsenal on Saturday.

Image: Getty

On social media, whoever was behind Newcastle's account on Wednesday decided to poke a bit of fun at United and the empty seats which had emerged.

Plenty of fans left early before the final whistle after having enough of what they saw.

Newcastle's account wrote: "Tonight's attendance at Old Trafford is 72,000. Slightly less now.”

The defeat was United's eighth in 15 games this season and sees the pressure continue to increase on Ten Hag.

The Red Devils take on Fulham this weekend a new report from The Times

claims Ten Hag is on "thin ice" - with United identifying Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim and former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane identified as possible replacements.

Topics: Eddie Howe, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Erik Ten Hag

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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