Manchester United v Newcastle player ratings: Fernandes 8, Ronaldo 8; Woodman 5, Almiron 8

Portuguese superstar scores twice on Old Trafford return as Red Devils eventually overpower Magpies 4-1 at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: Not much to do in first half bar one easy save from deflected Ritchie shot. Parried away powerful Joelinton strike in second half. No chance with goal. AP

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7: Gifted ball to Saint-Maxmin after half an hour that Frenchman failed to capitalise on but right-back did well 10 minutes later when holding same player who threatened to go through on goal. Getty

Harry Maguire - 7: Weak header straight at Woodman from first-half corner. Up against a team without recognised centre-forward but kept on toes by runs of Almiron and Saint-Maximin. Getty

Raphael Varane - 6: Beaten too easily by Joelinton run near start of game, then was given free header by Newcastle to almost open scoring with glancing header from corner. Solid game from Frenchman although was brushed off by Brazilian again in second half with De Gea coming to his rescue. Getty

Luke Shaw - 7: Not his usual marauding attacking runs down left in opening 45 but then piled forward just before the hour to help set up Ronaldo’s second. AFP

Nemanja Matic - 6: Important role at base of midfield with so many attacking options in front but passing radar not functioning particularly well here. Blazed one shot high into Stretford End and not the best of game's from the Serbian. AFP

Paul Pogba - 7: United needed more from the French midfielder in first half as they struggled to break through the black and white defensive wall. Harsh booking for accidently standing on Longstaff’s ankle. Key role in fourth goal. Getty

Mason Greenwood - 7: Moved into wider role due to Ronaldo’s arrival into team and it was his slightly deflected shot that resulted in Portuguese’s opener. Interesting to see how Greenwood’s role in team changes in coming weeks. Reuters

Bruno Fernandes - 8: Not a bad attempt to catch out Woodman with shot from half-way line after 25 minutes and one superb cross into box that was crying out for a finish in first half. Sweet finish to make it 3-1. Getty

Jadon Sancho - 6: Saw shot deflected wide after 30 minutes but – barring a few runs at the opposition defence - had little impact and clearly needs a run of games in team. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo - 8: Straight into starting line-up and into action with lovely footwork and shot into side netting after 10 minutes. Inevitable goal came in first-half injury time with close-range finish after Woodman fumble. Second followed in second half when he blasted through Woodman’s legs. AFP

SUBS: Jesse Lingard – (On for Sancho 69’) 7: Curled home brilliant finish for fourth goal. Reuters

Donny van de Beek – (On for Fernandes 84’) N/A. Getty

Anthony Martial – (On for Greenwood 84’) N/A. Reuters

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Freddie Woodman - 5: Annoyed home fans very early on with perceived time-wasting and was given warning by referee. Should have done better with Greenwood’s shot that he spilled into Ronaldo’s path for opening goal and saw Portuguese’s strike go through legs for his second. AP

Javier Manquillo - 7: Spanish right-back returned to starting XI and showed tremendous composure to score his first Newcastle goal. Getty

Isaac Hayden - 6: Midfielder started match as part of Newcastle’s defensive back five that had done so well for 45 minutes until Ronaldo's opener. Couldn’t prevent the same player firing home his second and, like his defensive colleagues, tired in last 10. Getty

Jamaal Lascelles - 7: Newcastle’s captain had been excellent marshalling the team and was clearly frustrated at conceding just before half-time whistle. Fine block on Lingard cross that was set to find a red shirt in the middle but failed to close down Fernandes before third goal. AP

Ciaran Clark - 6: His slight deflection to Greenwood’s shot led to Ronaldo’s goal. Decent effort at the back for the Magpies until late goals took edge of what had been a determined defensive performance. PA

Matt Ritchie - 7: Relentless workrate up and down the left but needed more help from Joelinton in front of him. Had deflected shot easily saved by De Gea 25 minutes in. Wasteful ball into middle just after half-time when well placed. Getty

Sean Longstaff - 7: Nearly found himself through on goal in first half but lost his footing at crucial moment. This was Longstaff’s best performance for a long while, with the Geordie midfielder fighting for every ball from first whistle to last. Getty

Joe Willock - 7: Left for dead by Ronaldo early on. Did well to catch out Fernandes in possession only to blast awful shot high and wide from tight angle just before half-hour. Prodigious workrate in midfield. AP

Miguel Almiron - 8: Stole ball off toes of Pogba superbly in first half that set Newcastle off on rare attack then showed fantastic pace down right to leave Pogba in his wake. Brilliant run and ball into middle that led to Manquillo goal. Man of the match for the Magpies. PA

Allan Saint-Maximin - 7: His usual mix of dangerous running at the defence and wasteful flicks handing possession to opposition. Teed-up Manquillo for Spaniard’s leveller. Getty

Joelinton - 6: Forced way past Varane after seven minutes but skewed woeful shot wide. Failed to provide support for Ritchie defensively down Newcastle’s left. Showed great strength to hold off Varane again after 67 minutes but De Gea saved fierce strike. Getty

SUBS: Jacob Murphy – (On for Manquillo 77’) N/A: Ambitious shot from well outside area hit straight at De Gea. Jamal Lewis – (On for Clark 84’) N/A Jeff Hendrick – (On for Willock 86’) N/A. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in his first game back in England as Manchester United eventually overcame a stubborn Newcastle United performance to clinch a 4-1 victory at a rocking Old Trafford.

The Portuguese attacker opened the scoring in first-half injury-time when he pounced on an error by Freddie Woodman after the Newcastle goalkeeper fumbled a deflected Mason Greenwood shot straight into the veteran's path.

Newcastle, though, threatened to spoil the party after 56 minutes when Javier Manquillo scored his first goal for the club with a composed finish after fine work by Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin.

But Ronaldo was not to be denied and the 36-year-old put his team back in front when he blasted a shot through the legs of Woodman six minutes later.

His international teammate Bruno Fernandes then sealed the points with a sweetly-struck shot from the edge of the area with ten minutes to go before substitute Jesse Lingard made it four with a fine finish in injury-time.

The day, though, belonged to Ronaldo and the victory took United to the top of the Premier League with ten points from a possible 12 in the bag. Newcastle sit second from bottom having managed just one point from four games.

Assessing the performances at Selhurst Park, Gareth Cox has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.