Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu is gearing up for a “physical battle”
when Newcastle United visit Manchester United on Boxing Day, in our 20:00 GMT kick-off.
It's the first of two consecutive Old Trafford meetings, with Wolverhampton Wanderers visiting just days later, and the Reds are potentially heading into the clash with a reduced squad through injury and Africa Cup of Nations participation.
Nevertheless, Dorgu and his colleagues are ready for the challenge, and the Denmark international feels he knows exactly what to expect from the Magpies.
“I think they press very high,”
the wing-back stated in an interview with United Review, our official matchday programme, available online and at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
“They're very aggressive as a team, they play very direct and they have a very good midfield to control the game, so I think it's always difficult to play against Newcastle.
”They just fight for every ball; they're a very aggressive and strong team. I think the physical battle and to be calm on the ball [will be important].
“We need to try to get the ball in their half so they cannot press us so high.”
We'll be without summer signing Bryan Mbeumo for this Premier League encounter, with the attacker on AFCON duty along with Amad and Noussair Mazraoui.
But another two of our window captures will be with the squad, in Senne Lammens and Matheus Cunha, a duo Dorgu discussed in his sit-down interview.
“I think he helped with his calmness,”
the Dane said of Lammens, whom he has had close dealings with, as part of Ruben Amorim's defensive unit.
“He's very calm and he's talking a lot to the defenders and helping everyone on the pitch with his communication.
“He's just calm and he tries to take responsibility to help us defenders as well.
”He came in well and he's doing really well, so he just needs to keep going.“
Cunha will be looking to score for a third consecutive game when the Magpies come to town, having struck against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
Not only is the South American providing an attacking threat on the pitch, Dorgu tells us he has settled in perfectly with the squad behind the scenes.
“Yeah, he's a good personality,”
Patrick said. “He's funny and he just came into the group fast and talked well with everyone.
”He's a lovely guy, and a good player as well.“
Turning the focus back on himself heading into the new year, the 21-year-old is ”very excited“ at the prospect of a first World Cup appearance with Denmark, with an initial play-off against North Macedonia currently to come in March.
But there is plenty of football to play with the Reds before that point, and Dorgu has his aims firmly set in his mind.
”The ambition for me, personally, is to get as many starts as possible and to help the team to succeed in our goals.“