Cristiano Ronaldo set for Manchester United return against Newcastle at Old Trafford on September 11 - kick-off 3pm; follow our live blog and watch free match highlights from 5.15pm on Sky Sports website and app
Saturday 11 September 2021 17:23, UK
Cristiano Ronaldo is in line for his second Manchester United debut against Newcastle when the Premier League returns after the international break - and you can watch free match highlights of the game shortly after full-time with Sky Sports.
Ronaldo sealed a stunning return to United from Juventus on Deadline Day, declaring himself "so happy to be back home" and insisting he was out "to win trophies" with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.
The Old Trafford legend made more history on international duty with Portugal as he broke the men's all-time international scoring record and spent his first day back at Carrington training ground on Tuesday, ahead of United's return to league action against Newcastle.
Manchester United host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday September 11 (3pm kick-off).
You can follow the game with our live blog on the Sky Sports website and app - and get details of Solskjaer's starting line-up as soon as the teams are announced at 2pm.
You won't need to wait long to see the match highlights - we'll bring them to you for free from 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app, as well as on our Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
And we'll serve up the best stats, analysis and reaction after the game.
"He is not signing to sit on the bench," Solskjaer said as Manchester United signed off for the break with a 1-0 win at Wolves. "He is going to make us a better team.
"Cristiano has evolved as a player; he used to play wide right, wide left, up front.
"He's more of a centre-forward for me at the moment, but there will be games where we play with two or three up front. I want him in the box, I want him scoring goals."
Ronaldo was released from the Portugal camp early after picking up a yellow card against the Republic of Ireland that ruled him out of his country's subsequent game against Azerbaijan.
He met his former team-mate and new manager Solskjaer on Tuesday, before joining in a training session.
Manchester United said of Ronaldo's first day: "With challenges to come at home and abroad in the near future, including Saturday's Premier League match against Newcastle and next Tuesday's start of the Champions League at Young Boys, it is hoped the striker will be ready to assist the side and begin to have an immediate impact in his second spell at the club."
Is Ronaldo still good enough to make a big impact at Old Trafford aged 36 and where does he fit into Solskjaer's team?
'Ronaldo has become that penalty-box poacher.
'In his first season at Real Madrid, only one per cent of his attempts came from inside the six-yard box. In his last season at Juventus, that had risen to 11 per cent - a career high. No player in Serie A scored so many goals from inside that six-yard box last season.
'His off-field influence could be significant too.
'Ronaldo's dedication to his profession remains fierce, showing total commitment to making himself the best that he can be. The hope is that this will help to create a winning culture.'
Read more on the stats around evergreen Ronaldo and how he is likely to be utilised at Man Utd.
Bruno Fernandes has struggled to combine well with Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal but could it be different at Man Utd?
'The curious thing is that despite the mutual respect, the fact that they are international team-mates playing in positions that should complement one another, the relationship between the two on the pitch has failed to ignite.
'During qualifying for the European Championship, the pair scored 12 of the 22 goals by Portugal players - Ronaldo with 11, Fernandes with one. But the two men did not directly combine for a single goal. Fernandes' two assists were for others.
'The trend repeated itself at Euro 2020. Fernandes has not even been on the pitch for any of Ronaldo's goals in World Cup qualifying so far. The spark is not there just yet.'
Read Adam Bate on what Cristiano Ronaldo's return might mean for Bruno Fernandes.
Ronaldo showed his enduring goalscoring prowess during the international break as two late goals earned Portugal a dramatic 2-1 win over the Republic - and him more history.
The Portugal captain nodded home twice in the dying minutes of the World Cup Qualifier at the Estadio Algarve, taking him to 111 goals for his country - two ahead of the previous record held Iranian Ali Daei.
Ronaldo later posted on social media: "From all the records that I have broken during my career - and fortunately there have been a few - this one is very special for me and it's certainly on the shelf of the achievements that make me truly proud.
"Congratulations to the 'Shariar' for holding the record for so long and thanks for always showing so much respect for me every time I scored and as I became closer and closer to his outstanding number.
"Thank you Portugal. Thanks to all my team-mates and opponents for making this journey so unforgettable. Let's keep meeting inside the pitch in the years to come. I'm not closing the count just yet..."
September 11: Man Utd vs Newcastle - Premier League, kick-off 3pm, free match highlights on Sky Sports Digital from 5.15pm
September 14: Young Boys vs Man Utd - Champions League, kick-off 5.45pm
September 19: West Ham vs Man Utd - Premier League, kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League
September 22: Man Utd vs West Ham - Carabao Cup, kick-off 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports Football
September 25: Man Utd vs Aston Villa - Premier League, 3pm, free match highlights on Sky Sports Digital from 5.15pm
September 29: Man Utd vs Villarreal - Champions League, kick-off 8pm
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