Harry Maguire claims Manchester United undermined by 16-day Covid break

Ralf Rangnick's side held by Newcastle in first game since December 11

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 6: Had home hearts in mouths when charging out of area to sweep up attack just before half hour. Palmed dipping Rashford shot over bar at start of second half. Dropped cross and sliced clearance in injury time to send jitters around St James’ Park. Reuters

Emil Krafth - 7: Swedish right-back put perfect ball into middle for Saint-Maximin just after break that Frenchman should have scored from. Booked for pulling shirt of Rashford. AFP

Fabian Schar - 7: A few all or nothing challenges that, happily for the Swiss, came off in first half. Played well at back in spirited Newcastle defensive display. Reuters

Jamaal Lascelles - 7: Captain been part of a – rightly – much maligned Newcastle defence this season but looked solid at St James’ Park right up until Cavani bundled home 71st minute leveller. Cleared another off line after indecision with Dubravka almost gifted second to Cavani. AFP

Javier Manquillo - 7: Spaniard did superbly to help keep likes of Greenwood and Rashford relatively quiet, so much so former was hooked at break. Dalot did find space down his wing to provide Cavani equaliser. Getty

Ryan Fraser - 8: Heavy first touch meant Scot failed to take advantage of early Maguire error down right. Some crunching tackles that delighted home fans. Forced decent save from De Gea just after hour. Ran himself into ground in probably his best game for club. Reuters

Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Almost caught in possession a couple of times in opening quarter of an hour but then stung hands of De Gea with rasping strike after surging run. Still piling forward looking for winner until very end. PA

Sean Longstaff - 7: Pinched ball off Varane and provided ball to Saint-Maximin for early opener. Impressive game in centre of park for Magpies, excellent pressing and some fine long passes. AP

Joelinton - 9: Curled shot wide of target from edge of box 12 minutes in. Relentless workrate from Brazilian who has found his niche with deeper role under Eddie Howe. Booked for dissent. Outstanding with and without the ball. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin - 8: Brilliant right-footed finish on the stretch to put side ahead after seven minutes. Missed sitter just after half-time after fine Krafth run and cross, then forced good save from De Gea from low strike. Limped off injured in last 10 minutes. Reuters

Callum Wilson - 7: Had ball in net after 39 minutes following Saint-Maxmin run and pass but striker was caught offside. Went down in a lot of pain at end of first half after falling awkwardly, tried to carry on but forced off minutes later with what looked like calf problem. EPA

SUBS: Jacob Murphy – (On for Wilson 45’ +6’) 8: On before half-time due to Wilson’s injury. Pace and pressing vital to Newcastle’s second-half performance. Cross-come-shot almost found way into bottom corner. Very unlucky to see late strike hit post. Getty

Migel Almiron – (On for Fraser 75’) 7: Fine shot soon after Murphy hit post was heading for top corner only for De Gea to pull off brilliant save. Reuters

Dwight Gayle – (On for Saint-Maximin 84’) N/A. Striker might have part to play in next few games if Wilson and Saint-Maximin injuries are bad. Getty

MANCHESTER UNITED: David De Gea - 9: Record of clean sheets under new boss was quick to go – not that the Spaniard could do much as he watched the ball fly in. Saved a strong 23rd minute Shelvey shot and made a vital save from Saint Maximin on 46 – and again on 62 from Fraser. And again and again and again – the best from Almiron - which wasn’t easy on a slippy surface. EPA

Diogo Dalot - 5: Early cross into six-yard box was too close to goalkeeper. Found it tough when up against Saint-Maximin, but set up Cavani for United’s equaliser. EPA

Harry Maguire - 5: Shaky against Wilson and he twice mis-controlled the ball against a side with one win in 19 league matches. Got in front of Almiron to stop a 90th minute attack. Reuters

Raphael Varane - 5: Back after missing eight games with a thigh injury and his pondering led to Newcastle’s opening goal. Gave ball away on 34 to set up another home attack. EPA

Alex Telles - 6: A regular under his new boss. Not easy playing alongside two haphazard central defenders. Swung a ball towards Cavani as his side pushed for a winner. EPA

Fred - 5: Busy as ever in front of the sell out 52,178 crowd, but Newcastle kept winning the ball in midfield – the area he was supposed to stop that happening. Good form until recently. Off at half time as United changed formation. EPA

Scott McTominay - 5: Another who suffered in the first half as Newcastle passed around United’s press. Neat one-two with Fred in an otherwise highly unconvincing first half from his side which lacked aggression. Limped off after 78. PA

Bruno Fernandes - 5: Failed to exploit the huge gaps in Newcastle’s defence. Outraged that he’d been pushed on 43, but the flag had gone up for offside. Cut a frustrated figure and was booked – he’ll miss Thursday’s game v Burnley. Tried the difficult passes and Involved in the goal. AFP

Mason Greenwood - 6: Positive early movement and smart cross-field pass towards Fernandes. Shot blocked by Lascelles on 30. Off at half time. Reuters

Marcus Rashford - 5: Got a lot of space on the right, but wasteful in his crosses. Nutmegged just before the break by Saint-Maximin. Excellent dipping shot on 48. His shot 12 minutes later would never be described as such. EPA

Cristiano Ronaldo - 5: Failed to meet a 16th minute cross on his right foot. Yellow card – and he was fortunate it was only yellow. Led the line which struggled to create chances against a side who’ve conceded so many league goals. Reuters

SUBS: Jadon Sancho – (On for Fred 46’) 6: Controlled the ball beautifully after 53 before shooting over. Set up Cavani on 54. Poor pass towards Ronaldo could have set him free on 88. AFP

Edinson Cavani – (On for Greenwood 46’) 7: Made a difference. Skewed a shot wide on 54, then had a shot blocked on 71, before scoring as the ball came back to him. Another effort cleared off the line on 75. Spun a shot across the goal on 80. PA

Nemanja Matic – (On for McTominay 78’) 6: His side dominated possession in the Tyneside drizzle – yet didn’t have the best chances. Getty

Skipper Harry Maguire believes their enforced Covid-19 break disrupted Manchester United after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Premier League strugglers Newcastle.

Ralf Rangnick's side needed a 71st-minute equaliser from half-time substitute Edinson Cavani to emerge with anything to show for their efforts at St James’ Park, and were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea for a series of fine saves.

It was their first outing for 16 days after a coronavirus outbreak which prompted the club to close their Carrington training complex – Victor Lindelof was absent on Tyneside after testing positive – but it was the lowly Magpies, playing for the fourth time in 16 days and depleted by Covid and injuries, who nearly secured just a second win of the campaign.

Maguire told Manchester United’s official website: “No 16-day break in the middle of a football season is going to help you.

“The training ground has been shut and half the lads playing today are recovering from the virus, so of course it’s not going to help us.

“We’ve had people with symptoms, people without symptoms – it’s been a real mixed bag for everyone at the football club and it’s been a tough time.

“But you can’t make excuses for sloppy passes and the opportunities that we had, especially in the first half.

“We’ve got to stay on the ball, we’ve got to stay active and we’ve got to play the ball in their half and we didn’t manage to do that.

“You can look at that and ask whether the last 16 days had a big impact on that because it looked like we ran out of steam out there.

“A point in the end is a fair result, but it’s a result that we’re disappointed with.”

Rangnick’s men fell behind to Allan Saint-Maximin’s superb seventh-minute opener and were negligent in possession as they attempted to work their way back into the game.

Cavani and Jadon Sancho were introduced at the break with Fred and Mason Greenwood making way in a change of shape and the Uruguay international struck with 19 minutes remaining to snatch a point.

However, Jacob Murphy was denied by a post and Miguel Almiron by a stunning De Gea save as time ran down to leave the visitors counting their blessings.

Maguire added: “David’s on great form at the minute. In big moments – it always seems to be late on in games that he’s always there to produce for us.”

The draw left United seven points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with two games in hand ahead of Thursday’s clash with Burnley at Old Trafford.