Steve Bruce handed a welcome opportunity at Newcastle United with Southampton in disarray

Ralph Hassunhutl’s side had two players sent off in last night’s 9-0 loss to Manchester United.

Hassunhutl had been forced to hand two teenagers their debuts at Old Trafford, and one of those players – midfielder Alex Jankewitz – lasted just two minutes before being dismissed.

Jankewitz will be suspended for Saturday’s game at St James’s Park along with Jan Bednarek, who was sent off late in the game.

Hassunhutl was without a number of players for the game, and he could again be without Theo Walcott, Oriol Romeu and Ibrahima Diallo. Kyle Walkers-Peters and Jannik Westergaard are also injured along with Michael Obafemi, last season’s top scorer.

“The second red card is most disappointing – we don't have any more players,” said Hassunhutl, who named two goalkeepers on his bench at Old Trafford to make up the numbers.

Nathan Tella, Mohamed Salisu and William Smallbone are also sidelined.

Steve Bruce, under pressure himself at relegation-threatened Newcastle after one win from 13 games in all competitions, will watch the game.

Speaking after last night’s 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, United's head coach said: “I’ll have a watch of the game. Somebody’s just told me that they’ve had two sent off. Listen, we’ll think about that tomorrow, but obviously it’s a disappointing result for them.”

Southampton – who were beaten 9-0 by Leicester City last season – have now lost four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since April 2018.

"I don’t need this result to know what we have to do better,” said Hassenhutl. “This time it is a completely different situation, not that it hurts less – it hurts even more when you get this result again.

"The team is a different one now, and that’s the reason why we’ve played a good season so far. Let’s see how the season ends. It will end better than the last I think."

Hassenhutl will have midfielder Takumi Minamino, signed on loan from Liverpool this week, available for the United game.

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