Manchester United v Newcastle United player ratings: Daniel James 7, Anthony Martial 3; Allan Saint-Maximin 7, Joelinton 6

Red Devils back up to second in table while Magpies' relegation worries deepen

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 5: Alert at the start for an inadvertent free-kick which tested him, then a deflected shot. Then made a poor clearance. Saved well from Saint Maximin after 35 minutes, before the same player volleyed a deserved equaliser. Reuters

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6: Least involved of the defenders, but worked hard throughout and needed to be on it against the talented Saint-Maximin. Reuters

Harry Maguire - 6: Lively start – and not always in a positive way. He pushed forwards but then had to recover as Newcastle didn’t sit back like other struggling sides. His cleared header was volleyed in for the Geordie goal. Made far more touches than any other player on the pitch – including an assist. Won six headers.. EPA

Victor Lindelof - 5: Matched the rapid Almiron for speed as the Geordies pressed early on and rattled a team who’d struggled against others at the wrong end of the table. AFP

Luke Shaw - 7: United’s best defender once again. In fact, the best player on the pitch once again. Attacking intent, whipped balls in and made runs down the left – even if his teammates didn’t always see them. Reuters

Fred - 5: Like his team, he started poorly. Not close enough to Saint Maximin when Frenchman scored. Managed a shot on target which is a rarity but, like his team, wasteful in passes. Reuters

Nemanja Matic - 7: First game since Sheffield United defeat and played close to Fred shielding a four man defence against the 17th place team at home. Better in the second and turned well to pass towards James for United’s second. Almost scored himself late on. AFP

Daniel James - 7: Rare start after a positive midweek performance. Worked hard in attack as well as defence but came alive after being skinned by Saint Maximin at the start of the second half. Finished well for United’s second as his team were under pressure, the goal giving him more confidence. Energy levels never faltered. Reuters

Bruno Fernandes - 6: The stats will say a goal and assist, but far from one of his best games. Booked in a poor first half. With so many players out, United were extra reliant on him, but he didn’t get the ball in the positions where he can do damage. Flicked a Shaw header on after 70 as his team livened up and then scored a penalty to make it 3-1 – and ease nerves. Reuters

Marcus Rashford - 6: Scored 18th goal of the season after 30 mins, cutting in from left, nut-megging Krafth and sneaking the ball in at the near post. And how he – with one in the previous nine league games – and more importantly his team, needed it. It was the best moment of the game and Rashford remains one of the few players who can produce such magic. AFP

Anthony Martial - 3: He’s not coming close to the levels needed to play for Manchester United. Nice run and shot after 59 – the first and only thing he did of consequence. His stock has never been lower in all his time at Old Trafford, his four league goals a woeful return for a striker in a team who’ve hit 53. First player off and it was no surprise. EPA

SUBS: Mason Greenwood - (On for Martial 70') 7: Hardly prolific himself this season, but he’s been playing well and looked sharp when he came on again. EPA

Juan Mata (No live images) - (On for James 88') N/A. Shola Shoretire (above) - (On for Rashford 89') N/A. Newcastle born 17-year-old has been a rising star. Made his debut against his hometown team. AFP

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Karl Darlow - 6: The Magpies goalkeeper hadn’t been tested until beaten by Rashford’s shot at his near post after half an hour. Should have done better and he knew it. Left woefully exposed for second goal and sent wrong way by Fernandes for penalty. Good tip over from Maguire header. Reuters

Emil Krafth - 5: Found Rashford too hot to handle for opening goal and was twice beaten by the United attacker. Swedish right-back will have sore joins in morning after being given the runaround at times. AFP

Ciaran Clark - 6: A number of important blocks and well-timed challenges from the former Aston Villa centre-half, athough was easily beaten by Martial who saw fierce strike saved in second half. Struggled to deal with Maguire from United corners late on. Reuters

Jamaal Lascelles - 7: Martial got little change out of the Magpies captain who was a powerful presence at the back. Good effort from the big centre-half. Reuters

Jamal Lewis - 5: Up against James who was constantly looking to run at the Magpies defence but the left-back handled him well in first half but lost his man completely before winger put United back in front. AP

Isaac Hayden - 7: Picked out some inch-perfect passes out to left wing in first half when he was also booked after a spat with Fernandes and Fred. A key player sitting in front of defence for Newcastle. Getty

Jonjo Shelvey - 6: Slipped when putting in early cross after five minutes and resulting up and under almost ended up with Joelinton scoring rare goal, via big deflection. Blazed good chance way over bar from edge of area. Struggles to keep up with pace of Premier League at times. AFP

Joe Willock - 7: Loan man from Arsenal was neat and tidy in first half, with one fine surging run down left and cross that Newcastle couldn’t capitalise on. And it was another of his crosses that led to Saint-Maximin’s goal. Barely touched Rashford before United player hit deck for second-half penalty. PA

Miguel Almiron - 7: Newcastle’s brightest spark in first half buzzing round pitch, always looking to run at United’s defence and saw shot from distance just before half-hour mark saved by De Gea. The Paraguayan, like Newcastle generally, disappeared as attacking force as second half wore on. Getty

Allan Saint-Maximin - 7: Had been kept relatively quiet until 35th minutes when his dipping shot was tipped over by De Gea but made no mistake a minute later when his first-time half-volley flew into roof of net. Drove shot straight at De Gea just after break. Newcastle will need to keep Frenchman fit for what looks set to be tense relegation battle. PA

Joelinton - 6: Back in starting line-up and started game well enough. Had deflected shot turned over bar by De Gea, produced lovely touch to put Almiron on attack down right and nice lay-off to present Shelvey with chance. Then picked up knock on side and spent rest of first half holding his back and did finally limp off 10 minutes after break. Getty

SUBS: Ryan Fraser (No live images) – (On for Joelinton 56’) 5: Weak low shot saved by De Gea but little other impact. Jacob Murphy (above) – (On for Saint Maximin 77’) N/A. Flashed one shot well over. Getty

Dwight Gayle – (On for Almiron 78’) N/A. AFP

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were on target as Manchester United deepened Newcastle's relegation fears with a 3-1 win on Sunday to move back into second in the Premier League.

The Red Devils had won just one of their previous five league games to allow Manchester City to open a 10-point lead at the top of the table and needed their star men to paper over the cracks of another unconvincing performance.

Rashford's thunderous near post strike to open the scoring was quickly cancelled out by Allan Saint-Maximin for the visitors.

However, Fernandes's touch teed up Daniel James to restore United's lead before the Portuguese playmaker stroked home a penalty for his 22nd goal of the season.

Victory takes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men back above Leicester on goal difference as the closest challengers to runaway leaders City.

James said: "Every time I play I give my all, the gaffer trusts me and a lot of things I have been working on in training are coming off.

"I have been on the sidelines a lot but doing everything can to get back into the team. I am patient, you've got to be. What can you learn from when you are not playing? That's what I've done."

Newcastle stayed 17th on 25 points, three ahead of Fulham who occupy the last relegation spot, after an eighth league defeat in 10 games.

Saint-Maximin said: "It's really disappointing because we were in the game in the first half. They scored quickly in the second half and the penalty was unlucky but that's football.

"We played against one of the best teams in the league, we know how difficult it is. We have the quality to win a game, you can see that against Everton, who beat Liverpool. It's a crazy league."