Football: Manchester United v Newcastle in pictures

Following his conspicuous lack of form and goals in South Africa, Wayne Rooney is back in a Manchester United shirt tonight for the start of the Premier League season. He scored 34 goals in 44 games for United last term and these fans will be hoping for a similar haul over the next nine months Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton guided his side to a tally of 102 points last season as they dominated the Championship. A trip to Old Trafford for their first game of the season should provide a testing return to the top flight Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Outside the ground, this Mexican fan has arrived at the match with a backpack, a plastic figure and a sign asking for a ticket so he can see United's summer acquisition Javier Hernandez in action ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... while this stall keeper has taken full advantage of the Hernandez's arrival at the club, buying a job lot of sombreros Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Hernandez starts on the bench for United, while Joey Barton is one of a number of Newcastle players sporting dodgy moustaches. Apparently they'll not be shaving them off until Newcastle have won a match this season Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, has a laugh just before the game as visiting managers Tony Pulis (left) and David Moyes (right) take their seats Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Kevin Nolan and Antonio Valencia get down to business on the field Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Andy Carroll heads an early chance over the bar when he should at least have hit the target. The big centre-forward had lost his marker through stealth, but then misguided the resulting opportunity Photograph: Tom Jenkins

In the 33rd minute, Paul Scholes slides the ball to Dimitar Berbatov and he slots a low shot across the keeper to give United the lead Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Bulgarian needs only 11 more to match his tally of last season Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Darren Fletcher scores a second goal just eight minutes later when a scuffed effort by Rooney falls into his path Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper knows it'll be almost impossible for his side to come back from this. He'll doubtless be having flashbacks to the 6-0 drubbing of January 2008, which he watched from the bench. This could turn into another such rout Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Nolan and Jonas Gutierrez don't look too happy at the prospect of facing a free-kick Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Wayne Routledge tries to escape the attentions of Berbatov Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Things are going too well for Rooney, who's being overshadowed by his strike partner. Here, he bursts past Mike Williamson and James Perch in an effort to create a chance Photograph: Tom Jenkins

United's new signing Hernandez, wearing 'Chicharito', joins the action in the 63rd minute at the expense of Rooney Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Berbatov fires just wide as Harper looks back to see if he's conceded a third goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Nani fends off Jose Enrique and Fabricio Colocinni Photograph: Tom Jenkins

This time Carroll performs well in the air, beating Jonny Evans to the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Five minutes remaining and it's 3-0! Wouldn't you know it, the veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have combined for this one. Scholes clipped the ball to Giggs, who guided an awkward volley into the far corner Photograph: Tom Jenkins

It wasn't the cleanest connection by Giggs, but it's the 21st consecutive season that he's scored for United Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Berbatov and Hernandez join in with the celebrations. 3-0 it ends. A quick peak at the table (if there is such a thing after one game) shows United are level pegging with Chelsea and two points ahead of both Liverpool and Arsenal - familiar territory Photograph: Tom Jenkins