Van Persie
United could be without both van Persie and Rooney for the visit of Newcastle. (Reuters)

Manchester United will have the opportunity to erase the memory of Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Everton when Newcastle United visit Old Trafford this weekend, but must attempt to do so without Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

A 86<sup>th minute winner from Bryan Oviedo confined David Moyes' side to their fourth defeat of the season in a game where Wayne Rooney led the attack to no avail with van Persie still struggling with a groin injury he initially picked up on international duty.

The Premier League champions have managed to fill the void left by the Dutchman with Rooney's prolific form which has produced ten goals in all competitions but a yellow card for a reckless kick on Phil Jagielka means that he will now serve a one match ban when Alan Pardew's side visit.

And while Moyes maintains van Persie's injury is not serious, the Scot's prognosis suggests that both he will also watch the game from the side lines.

"I don't know (when van Persie will return)," Moyes told Manchester United's official website. "We've been trying to get him back for a few weeks.

"But he is not ready yet. It's his groin. It's a sore groin injury and nothing desperately serious."

Although Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck are waiting to step into starting roles, Rooney's influence over his side will be sorely missed. Prior to their loss to Everton, the England international had a role to play in United's last five goals across three league games, netting a brace against Tottenham, scoring and supplying Patrice Evra's effort in the draw against Cardiff and providing the cross that van Persie connected with to seal a win over Arsenal.

Danny Welbeck meanwhile has failed to score since his brace on the opening day of the season, leaving the burden on the shoulders of Hernandez. The Mexican has struck just one goal in the league this season, but has added a further three in the Capital One Cup, including a winner against Liverpool.

The combination of Rooney and van Persie has produced 15 of United's paltry 22 league goals so far this season, with Welbeck (2), Adnan Januzaj (2), Hernandez (1), Antonio Valencia (1) and Patrice Evra (1) completing the set.