All ready for a battle with Huddersfield

Benitez is expecting Huddersfield to come charging at his team again this afternoon.

The Spaniard said: “Sometimes they press high with great intensity but that exposes them in defence.

“If you analyse their game with Manchester City they conceded a lot of goals because they went forward a lot.

“Against Wolves they won after doing the same thing, though.

“It just depends on the game but they are quite dangerous.”

United take on a Huddersfield side which has lost its last three matches and which will be without one of its star men in Aussie striker Aaron Mooy.

Wagner said: “We will deal with our injury situation and we will need everyone in our squad.

“Injuries are part of the game.

“We are experienced enough to deal with it.

“We have to manage it.

“You always know it can happen but now we have them in a short time, which is very unlucky.” There has been a bit of aggression and bite in recent Newcastle-Huddersfield fixtures – United’s Jamaal Lascelles and Rajiv van la Parra square up in 2017 RAFA Benitez has dedicated his award for November manager of the month to his backroom team.

Benitez earned the prize after a public vote following his side’s 100% record last month. United defeated Watford, Bournemouth and Burnley as they bounced back from their wretched start to the season with a run of victories.

Speaking after receiving the award, Benitez said on the club site: “It is always good to win trophies.

“I would like to win more manager of the months as it would mean we were in a better position in the table.

“It is always positive, it is always good and it is good also for the staff and everybody who is helping you.

“Everybody has to be congratulated for this kind of thing.

“Always, in any club, it is not just the manager – it is a lot of people behind the scenes who are doing a great job.”

Benitez posed for photos with goalkeeper coach Simon Smith, Mikel Antia, ‘Paco’ Moreno and Antonio Gomez Perez.

Benitez beat the likes of David Wagner, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Marco Silva and Mauricio Pochettino to the prize.

It kicks off the start of a crucial period for Newcastle, with United at Huddersfield today before hosting Fulham in key pre-Christmas fixtures.

Huddersfield are a team who work really hard and a team who are also aggressive.