Ronaldo's Triumphant United Return

Like He Never Left With His Return At Old Trafford

You couldn't script it. Or perhaps you could. Considering the feats this man has achieved in the sport, nothing should surprise us.

The loudest roar heard in at least the last 24 months, and perhaps since the 2012/13 season. erupted at Old Trafford. It came for the prodigal son, the 5 time Balon D'Or winner, 5-time Champions League winner, 2-time Spanish League winner, 2-time Italian league winner, 3-time Premier League winner, and icon of world football Cristiano Ronaldo. He stepped onto the hallowed turf in the red of Manchester United for the first time since the 08/09 season.

The first half didn't totally go to script as a plucky Newcastle United held United and their returning icon at bay. Newcastle gave as good as they got and threatened to spoil the party. They held the Portuguese at bay, as he had three reasonable chances in the first ten minutes.

Just when it seemed like the Magpies would make it to halftime at level pegging, enter the man Ronaldo. In the second minute of injury time, Ronaldo showed a striker's instinct to give United the lead, poking home a rebound off of a hapless Newcastle keeper.

Newcastle shocked the Old Trafford crowd by equalizing early in the second half through Javier Manquillo in a beautifully executed Magpies counterattack. This was not part of the script.

It took the best part of five minutes, but Ronaldo set up by a tremendous Luke Shaw got them back ahead with a sweet finish that went through the legs of Freddie Woodman in Newcastle's goal.

There were two more goals, including a world-class 25-yard scorcher from Bruno Fernandes and a sublime team goal finished by Jesse Lingard, but this was Ronaldo's day.

CR7 is back in the Premier League and he put the entire league on notice with this display. At the same time, he secured the Red Devils firmly in the title picture.