LONDON:

** Twelve years and 118 days vanished at Old Trafford as Manchester United celebrated two more goals for Cristiano Ronaldo in a 4:1 defeat of Newcastle. They lifted his total in the Premier League to 86 goals in 197 appearances.

They were important goals at vital moments as the 36-year-old rose to the occasion. Firstly he opened the scoring just before half-time then put United back ahead after Javier Manquillo had levelled for Newcastle. Bruno Fernandes and substitute Jesse Lingard sealed the three points which pushed United top of the table.

An hour later several hundred fans were still chanting his name outside Old Trafford after almost drowning out his post-match television interview at the side of the pitch. Ronaldo said: “I expected to score one goal though maybe not two. But most important was the win for the team.”

Initially Ronaldo, operating at centre forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation, had struggled to adjust to his new team-mates and find space for himself rather than competing for theirs. Then it all came right. First the tap-in after Freddie Woodman dropped a shot from Mason Greenwood then a shot through the goalkeeper’s legs on a counter-attack.

Classic Ronaldo: always in the right place at the right time to start repaying his £500,000-a-week wage.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was delighted. He said: “The atmosphere around the club has been electric. The supporters have enjoyed the last 10 days or so since he signed. There were loads of expectations on the team and him and he’s delivered.

“This is what he does. He lifts everyone and gets everyone else focused. He puts demands on himself which then put demands on his teammates and on us. That’s why he has done so much in his career and been so disciplined. He’s a different type of player to when he left but he’s still a ruthless and clinical goalscorer. He smells the big moments and when there are goals he is in there.”

Ronaldo completed a full 90 minutes for only the second time this season after he scored both goals in Portugal’s 2:1 win over the Republic of Ireland on September 1.

Solsjkaer said. “He needs minutes, he wanted to play and we needed to get 90 minutes into him.”

No wonder the fans were happy. They want open-top bus tours with the Premier League and Champions League trophies again, just like in the good old days of Sir Alex Ferguson. Ronaldo’s old boss, who made a crucial phone call to persuade him back to Old Trafford, was in the directors’ boss to join in the celebrations.

Also in the directors’ box, for the first time in two years, was executive co-chairman Avram Glazer. Clearly he felt this a safe occasion on which to show his face to the fans who still have no love for the owners.

One old United hero not celebrating was Steve Bruce. Newcastle fans greeted the final whistle by chanting for his dismissal. Newcastle are next to bottom of the table, still in search of their first win after four games.

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