Former United assistant boss Steve McClaren brings his new-look Newcastle to Old Trafford this Saturday lunchtime searching for only their second win here since 1972 and their first of the 2015/16 campaign.
The former England manager, who served as United's number two under Sir Alex from 1999-2002, replaced John Carver in the St James' Park hotseat and has already begun to make his own stamp in the team, bringing in Georginio Wijnaldum and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
A much improved 3-1 win over Club Brugge in midweek has boosted the confidence of the players and fans and we go into this game looking for a fourth win on the bounce in all competitions.
Should we do so, it will be the first time that we have won the opening four league fixtures since 2011/12.
Reds manager Louis van Gaal hinted that Bastian Schweinsteiger could make a first start tomorrow, whilst Phil Jones is still injured, Marouane Fellaini serves the third match of his ban and Marcos Rojo needs more match fitness.
"It is still the same, only Jones is ill but it's getting better with him so maybe next week, he's already running on the pitch so it is not bad.
"Rojo is not injured but needs match fitness."
On Schweinsteiger, van Gaal added:
"Yes of course he can be ready, it's a matter of time, maybe it shall happen tomorrow.
"You never know, you shall have to wait and see my selection.
"I think he can still do better because when you are not fit enough then it is difficult to show your highest level.
"It is also a matter of time and we have seen a solution in rotating our second captain Michael Carrick, with Schweinsteiger, I think it is a very good solution because we can spare them both for the big moments."
The Dutchman added:
"We must continue in our good start, it is another home game but as you know it shall not be easy against Newcastle- I like their style of play and their support is very good so it is a big challenge for us and we have to be ready."
Referee: C Pawson
Betting odds: United 2/5 Draw 17/4 Newcastle 12/5
Form guide: United W W W Newcastle D L
A young, vibrant, exciting talent announcing himself to his new audience with a collection of sparkling Champions League goals; United fans have seen this all before.
What Memphis Depay did on Tuesday night, Wayne Rooney did in 2004.
Actually he went one better: three years younger than Depay at the time, he scored a hat-trick against Fenerbahce on his first European outing in a red shirt.
If that is the path, Depay is embarked upon, then we have a very good idea of where the ambitious Dutchman will be in 11 years time; bereft of form, scratching around for a goal, apparently allergic to the penalty box, seemingly no longer capable of being in the right place at the right time.
Because, this season, the magnificent Rooney of that introduction appears to have all but disappeared,
Rooney insists that his poor start is temporary and that he will recover, the goals will come.
It is just a matter of time.
His manager has been quick to support him, suggesting that any query about his performance demonstrates a lack of patience and consistency.
"You wanted him there" says Louis van Gaal, the United manager, of Rooney's current position, restored to leading the line after a season spent filling in gaps all around the pitch.
For sure, as the focal point of the attack, bullying the opposition into cowed surrender, is precisely who saw Rooney in 2004 would want him to play.
Or at least they would want that Rooney to be centre-forward- the carefree, pugnacious and daring Rooney, the Rooney entirely lacking fear or constraint.
But that Rooney is a long way from the restrained, sluggish figure he now cuts.
For those that have watched him over the years, the gathering fear is that there is nothing temporary about his decline.
The thing about the 18-year-old Rooney was that he arrived at Old Trafford fully formed: there was no suggestion that here was a player of potential who might, given proper nurturing, develop into something special.
He already was something special.
He had been like it since he first burst onto the scene for Everton as a 16-year-old, mature way beyond his years, physically and mentally perfectly attuned.
Watching him in those early years, it was as if he was working on a different chronology to the rest of us, galloping through life at breakneck pace.
At 16 he was a man, at 18 he was an international, at 22 he was a European champion.
And now, still only 29, he looks as if he is nearing middle age.
Forget the easy jokes about his retreating hairline, it is in his gait, the scale of his thighs, the diminished acceleration and that the years are catching up with him.
While other players are reckoned to be at their physical prime in their late twenties, he peaked five years ago.
That does not mean he has no contribution to make.
He is way too good a player to simply slip entirely into turgid irrelevance.
As his delightful back-heel flick to set up Depay for the easiest of chances to complete a hat-trick against Brugge showed, his touch and vision remain undimmed.
Rooney can still serve a purpose.
But it does mean that LVG is being optimistic in his belief that Rooney these days belongs at no 9 in his line-up.
There are plenty- not least Rooney himself- who have long believed he would be better deployed behind the front man, using his guile and experience to create chances for younger, quicker types to exploit.
Maybe that is the most coherent immediate future for a player whose class has never been in doubt: play him at 10 and put someone else up front to do his running for him.
Someone like Depay, for instance.
Memphis stole the show for United against Brugge on Tuesday and at the same time announced himself on the big stage on his European debut for the club.
In his first two domestic games for United- against Spurs and Villa- Depay had been used as a number ten behind Rooney and on both occasions didn't really have an influence on the game.
Against Brugge, it was Adnan Januzaj who played that role with Memphis shifted to the left wing- and the results were emphatic.
Cutting in from wide, he scored two screamers and set up the third for Fellaini, but, more than that, he terrorised the Belgians all night, should have had a hat-trick and was the best player on the pitch by a mile.
Of course, United will come up against better opposition than Brugge this season, so at this stage Memphis' showing has to be put into perspective, but it felt like the start of something a bit special.
Since the departure of CR7, many have been tried in the iconic shirt- Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Angel Di Maria all had a single underwhelming campaign with the number on their backs- but, far from struggling with the prestige that comes with the history attached to the number- Memphis looks like he will thrive.
Granted, the previous incumbent started the same way, but whereas he lacked the mentality, attitude and desire to succeed, Memphis is young, hungry and stated on signing for the club that United is the "only place he wants to be."
Before we signed him I had thought of Memphis as a small, lithe, lightweight figure who may struggle with the physical demands of the Premier League.
On the contrary, his stocky, robust demeanour looks perfectly suited to the high-pressure demands of the top flight, and that along with his pace, skill and power meant that he looked every inch a United player on Tuesday.
It's still early days, and it's going to take more than a man of the match showing against an unheralded Belgian outfit to judge Memphis, but the signs are promising, and for all the pretenders that have worn the number seven, he may finally be the man to live up to the expectations.
It's been said that one of the reasons for Wayne Rooney's recent struggles in front of goal is due to lack of service from wide.
I was at the Brugge match on Tuesday and let me tell you that this is not the case.
Memphis, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj frequently looked to Rooney as the target man and played him in, but too often his lack of movement and hesitancy in possession meant that a lot of the Reds attack broke down.
Put Rooney in midfield and he wants to get back up front, make him the number 10 and he wants to be the number nine.
Ask him to be the number nine as the main striker and he drops deep.
Basically, he still wants to be the kid in the playground who plays everywhere and this surely poses more questions than answers for United and LVG.
The fact that his replacement, Marouane Fellaini, had more of an impact in the seven minutes he was on the field than Rooney did for the other 80 or so said it all- it was only when Chicharito came on and Rooney dropped a little deeper did he have something of an influence on the game.
There, playing in 'the hole' behind Hernandez, Rooney cleverly set up Memphis for a chance that the Dutchman should have scored, and his vision and range of passing were key as United opened up a two-goal first leg cushion.
It's clear to me that this is Rooney's best position- he is no longer an out and out striker, so the question of who that will be is one that Van Gaal needs to answer.
There is no questioning Rooney's work-rate, as usual, but he seems lacking in confidence, a yard or two short of pace and is not having enough influence on United playing as the main centre-forward.
Whether this is because of age or the fact that his game has simply evolved I cannot say, but we've reportedly bid for Thomas Muller and should we acquire him, he should be the man to lead the line as the focal point of our attack.
Rooney is still an integral part of this United side (he is, after all, our captain) and his place in the side does not appear to be under threat (although that may be because Van Gaal has no one else, at present, who can fill the number nine spot).
It is clear, though, that's Rooney's future should be as a slightly deeper lying playmaker behind the front man where his range of passes and clever touches unlock defences for a 25-goal-a season striker.
Should we not sign anyone else in this window, then perhaps Javier Hernandez could fill the berth or, given his performance last night, maybe its worth playing Memphis further forward.
Whatever happens, there's plenty to ponder for LVG and, in particular, for the skipper.
A stunning individual performance from Memphis inspired United to a commanding- if not quite yet unassailable- lead in the Champions League playoffs over the ten man Belgians.
The 21-year-old, signed from PSV for £25 million- scored twice and set up the nerve-settling third for Marouane Fellaini to put the Reds in command and give them one foot in the group stages.
The early stages did not go to plan for Van Gaal's side, though, as Brugge started well and stunned Old Trafford when they took an eighth minute lead through Michael Carrick's unfortunate own goal from a Victor Vazquez free-kick.
The equaliser was not long in coming, though, and it took the hosts only five minutes to restore parity after Memphis juggled the ball, cut inside and rifled home an excellent low drive.
Depay had an effort well saved by Brugge keeper Sebastien Bruzzesse and Wayne Rooney- again on the fringes of the game- had an acrobatic scissor kick cleared off the line as United started to come on strong.
The hosts ramped up the pressure and reaped the rewards shortly before the interval through another brilliant strike from Memphis who curled home a wonderful 25-yarder after good work from Daley Blind.
Juan Mata and Memphis went close to a third as the visitors- backed noisily throughout by their travelling fans- began to tire.
At 2-1, the hosts could not afford to ease off and should have extended the lead just before the hour mark as Memphis missed a golden opportunity for his hat-trick.
The winger blazed over from ten yards when well-placed after a neat flick from Rooney when it looked easier to score.
In truth, the Reds never really looked like relinquishing their lead, and, after Mata went close with a drive and Adnan Januzaj also flashed a shot wide, Brugge were reduced to ten men when Brandon Mechele was sent off for a late tackle on substitute Chicharito to earn his second booking of the game.
Chris Smalling should have done better with a close-range header, but the Reds failure kill off the depleted visitors- coupled with the narrow nature of the lead- began to turn into nervous tension around the ground.
Van Gaal introduced Fellaini (available for Europe despite serving a domestic suspension) and the giant midfielder came up with what could be the decisive, pivotal moment in the tie when he nodded in a superb cross from Memphis with the final play of the game to put the Reds in a strong position ahead of next week's second leg.
United Faithful Man of the Match: Memphis Depay
Overall team performance: 8/10
After what seems like an eternity, Champions League football is back at Old Trafford with United firm favourites to prevail over these two legs and seal a place in the group stages.
For Louis van Gaal, this is his first European match in charge and he has urged his side not to take the Belgians lightly, describing the tie as a "high pressure moment."
Speaking on Monday, LVG said:
"We have to show our quality against a good team, it is not an easy game and all the pressure is on us, so because of this we need to be ready.
"There is a lot of pressure because our goal and aim is to reach the next stage of this competition so these kinds of matches are difficult.
"Brugge can defend very well and can attack also, so it shall be a difficult match and this is why the pressure is very high.
"I think that his (Brugge boss Michel Preud'homme) teams are always well organised and a very good structure, I played against him as a player and now I am against him as a manager so it shall be an interesting match.
"We've had a better start than last year but you can always improve and I'm confident we will develop that to a much higher level- I expect that."
Phil Jones is United's only confirmed absentee through illness, whilst Marouane Fellaini- serving a domestic suspension- is available for the tie and could feature against his countrymen.
The boss remained silent when asked about David De Gea's involvement, merely stating that "I gave my answer a week ago."
Brugge's outstanding talent is former Barcelona star Victor Vazquez- voted the best player in Belgium last season- and he is the key for Preud'homme's side if they are to cause a major upset.
They reached this stage by knocking out Panathinaikos 4-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round to set up a first ever competitive meeting with United.
Referee: Deniz Aytekin of Germany is the man in the middle for this one
Match odds: United 3/10 Draw 19/4 Brugge 19/2
Form guide: United W W Brugge D W
Wayne Rooney will hope to open his account for the season on Tuesday
An opportunistic first half strike from Adnan Januzaj settled a largely uninspiring contest in the Midlands and gave United a second win from two games.
LVG had sprung something of a surprise by naming Januzaj in the side ahead of Ashley Young, but the gamble paid off as the winger, playing in a central role, made the decisive difference.
The Belgian, in his first start for six months in a Red shirt, scored from close-range after he got on the end of Juan Mata's clever pass as we took our unbeaten run at Villa Park to 20 matches.
Villa rarely threatened as we kept a second successive clean sheet and the victory lifted us to the top of the Premier League table for the first time since August 2013.
After a tentative start from both sides, the visitors took the lead when Belgian international Januzaj timed his run superbly to receive Mata's pass.
He then cut back inside on his right foot, past the sliding Micah Richards, and clipped a shot home via a deflection off Ciaran Clark.
Gabby Agbonlahor's header from a corner- well saved by Sergio Romero- was the only response Villa could muster in a match high in endeavor and energy but lacking in chances and cutting edge.
Memphis Depay has United's best opportunity to double the lead after the break, but curled his shot wide when clean through after Mata had played him in.
That proved to be the last noteworthy action of a disappointing contest that the Reds probably just about deserved the points from, as we won our opening two games of a league season for the first time since 2011.
United manager van Gaal said:
"I think we played better than last week, the start to the season is better than last year but that is no so difficult.
"I am pleased because last year we had one point and this year we have six, we kept the ball well in the first 20 minutes and scored a fantastic goal.
"After that we will a little bit nervous but in the second half we played very controlled football and I am very happy."
United Faithful Man of the Match: Daley Blind.
A close call between 'Mike' Smalling, Mata and Blind, but the Dutchman silenced his critics with a solid and dependable showing at centre-back to help keep Villa in check.
Overall team performance: 6.5/10
