Rooney dropped for Newcastle clash

Wayne Rooney did not even make the substitutes’ bench for Manchester United’s Barclays Premier League encounter with Newcastle this afternoon.

Like Robin van Persie – who did start – Rooney is one yellow card away from a suspension, although, by his own admission, he did perform poorly at Swansea on Sunday.

His place went to Javier Hernandez, one of five changes for United, whilst 19-year-old Gael Bigirimana was handed only his second Premier League start for the visitors, who have not won at Old Trafford since 1972.