Manchester United’s Ander Herrera is due to appear in court in Spain the day after his side face Newcastle United in the Premier League, according to reports.

The Spanish newspaper AS reports that Herrera, one of 41 people due to give evidence over alleged match-fixing in a 2011 game between Levante and Real Zaragoza, will appear at 9.30am on Thursday 5 March, the morning after United’s 7.45pm kick-off at St James’ Park.

Zaragoza avoided relegation by winning the match 2-1, with prosecutors later alleging that Levante players were paid to lose, which the players deny.

Herrera, who was part of the Zaragoza side, said in a statement in December: “I have never had and will never have anything to do with manipulating match results.

“In an ongoing legal process involving Real Zaragoza, the club I was honoured to play from 12 until 22 years of age, there are 41 people mentioned, of which I am one. If I am ever called to testify in any judicial hearing, I’ll be happy to attend, as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch.”

On Tuesday Japan’s FA announced they had sacked their coach Javier Aguirre due to his involvement in the case, the Mexican having been in charge of Zaragoza. Aguirre also denies wrongdoing.

The JFA president Kuniya Daini said they feared the inquiry would be a distraction during Japan’s campaign to qualify for the next World Cup. “We want to avoid those risks. There is a possibility that he will be indicted and then a court case could begin.”