Why McTominay misses the Newcastle game

The Scotland international received his fifth yellow card of the domestic season during the Reds' pulsating 2-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

McTominay had only just come on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Christian Eriksen when referee David Coote booked him for a challenge on Demerai Gray.

However, the combative midfielder still played an important role in helping United repel some late attacks from the hosts to see out a precious victory.

McTominay was previously cautioned in the 3-1 win over Arsenal and 1-0 victory at Southampton, as well as the two early-season defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.

The rulebook states that "any player earning five bookings from their side's first 19 Premier League matches will serve a one-match ban in the same competition. 

"Players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches up to and including their team's 32nd fixture will serve a two-match suspension in the competition."

McTominay will still be eligible to play in the Europa League and could therefore feature in Thursday's home match against Omonia Nicosia.

It remains to be seen how United manager Erik ten Hag will shuffle his pack for our rematch with the Cypriot side. But the Dutchman may decide to deploy Scott from the start, knowing the no.39 would then have an enforced rest when Newcastle visit Old Trafford just three days later.

That promises to be another challenging game next Sunday, given the Magpies are directly below the fifth-placed Reds in the table and are only one point behind, having notched an emphatic 5-1 win in Saturday's home meeting with Brentford.

However, Ten Hag will still have plenty of players to call upon, including Casemiro, who was selected ahead of McTominay against Everton and impressed in his first Premier League start since signing for United in late August.