Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic return as Manchester United thrash Newcastle United

Job done for United. Things didn't start according to plan for Jose Mourinho with Dwight Gayle opening the scoring after 14 minutes. But it's ended up being a very satisfying night for the Portuguese.

Paul Pogba was in excellent form on his return to action, claiming a goal and an assist before going off after an hour. Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku all impressed after starting together for the first time this season - with the Belgian finally ended his drought in front of goal. And the icing on the cake - Zlatan Ibrahimovic making his grand return from injury under the lights at Old Trafford.

Full-time: Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United

Three minutes of time added on at Old Trafford.

Almost the perfect return for the Swede. He pulls away at the far post and waits for Rashford to pick him out inside the box and obviously, he opts for a scissor kick, connecting with the ball but unable to beat Elliot at his near post.

Four goals, three points and a return for Zlatan. It's been a good night for Jose Mourinho's side.

Here's United's final change of the evening with Ander Herrera onto replace Mata.

Every time Ibrahimovic touches the ball he is getting a huge ovation. His pass frees Young down the inside left but his cross trickles across goal with no one able to get on the end of it.

I'm not exactly sure how United are lining up in attack now that Ibrahimovic is on the pitch but Lukaku appears to be in a wide position out on the right with Mata through the middle.

And here comes the big man; Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes his Manchester United comeback, replacing the excellent Anthony Martial with 15 minutes remaining.

Romelu Lukaku ends his drought! Starting out on the right wing, he looks inside to Mata before getting the ball back via a neat flick from the Spaniard. Lukaku powers his way into the box, flicking the ball over a meek Newcastle challenge to leave himself one-on-one with Elliot. He takes his time, feinting once to fool the goalkeeper before lashing one into the roof of the net. Another fine United goal and the Belgian has his 12th goal of the season.

Goal! Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United (Romelu Lukaku, 70)

Here's United first change of the afternoon; but it isn't Zlatan coming on. Instead, it's Marouane Fellaini replacing Pogba. The France international has been terrific on his return from injury.

During that, Newcastle got the advantage after Smalling caught Hayden with a painful looking challenge, overstretching and catching the Newcastle midfielder on the shin. He picks up a yellow card.

Fine save by De Gea! Murphy suddenly drives forward with the United defence backpedding and takes on the shot, but it is comfortable enough for the Spaniard. By his standards anyway.

First change of the evening comes for Newcastle, with Rolando Aarons replacing Ritchie.

Newcastle finally get a bit of respite and come forward on the counter. The ball is moved inside to Shelvey who suddenly bursts past his marker into the box but is forced wide by Smalling. He loses control of the ball and to add insult to injury, the former Liverpool man slips in front of the United crowd.

Newcastle are being torn apart here at the minute; Lukaku is picked out in loads of space down the left and he is all too easily able to dart inside Yedlin. He looks inside for Rashford but his pass isn't accurate enough and is unable to find his strike partner.

#Pogback indeed. It's a wonderful third from United who deserve it after their superb start to this half. Mata starts it, freeing Lukaku down the inside left who clips a cross into Rashford who has just about peeled off his man. Instead of heading on goal, the England international cushions the ball across goal for Pogba to run onto and convert from close range. Superb stuff all round.

Goal! Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United (Paul Pogba, 53)

United have started well here with Martial racing down the inside left darting past his marker before clipping an inviting ball across goal. It's begging for someone to get on the end of it but it veers across goal and out of play.

Rashford looks to have joined Lukaku up front in this half with Martial out on the left and that change almost pays off straight away. Martial stretches the Newcastle defence before cutting inside to Pogba who dinks a wonderful first-time ball into the box for Rashford. He almost flicks it on perfectly for Lukaku with another first-time effort but Elliot scampers out of goal to get their just in time.

No changes from either side at half-time; can Newcastle spring another surprise on the home side?

And United get is back underway for the second-half.

Chris Smalling's header has given United the lead having trailed early on thanks to Dwight Gayle's strike.

Half-time: Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle United

Newcastle almost equalise straight away! Hayden makes a superb run into the box , darting past Pogba and Smalling but he doesn't open up his body enough and his effort on goal is well saved by De Gea. A rebound then cannons off Gayle without him knowing much about it, but it bounces wide! Thrilling end to the half.

And United snatch the lead! It's another superb cross, this time from Ashley Young, that provides the goal. From a short corner, he cuts inside his man and floats a sublime ball over towards the far post where Chris Smalling has peeled away from his man to beat Eliot.

Superb turnaround from United, they should make it to half-time with a lead.

Goal! Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle United (Chrris Smalling, 45+1)

Martial lifts a dangerous ball in from the left towards Lukaku but he cannot get the right contact on the ball. That might be because Clark has almost pulled his shirt off his back, but referee Craig Pawson turns away his appeals.

After Shelvey pings a vicious effort straight at De Gea, the Spaniard hurls the ball forward to set up a counter with Rashford driving at the Newcastle backline. It's to-on-two for a moment with Martial peeling away to his left but Rashford's pass is woeful, allowing Clark to scamper across and intercept.

United are coming on strong as we enter the final five minutes of the first-half. Newcastle might have to cling on until half-time, here.

United are level! Terrific play from Pogba who pops up on the right of the box, shifting the ball past his marker before lifting across a wonderfully inviting cross to Martial at the near post. The United forward rises above his man and powers a header past Elliot.

Goal! Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United (Anthony Martial, 37)

There is a collision in the air between Rob Elliot and Manquillo with the former crashing through the back of the defender to collect the ball. It is the goalkeeper who is left a little worse for wear but for now, he will carry on.

Rashford darts past Murphy down the right and tries to ping one into the box but it is forced out for a corner. United mounting a bit of pressure here.

27 minutes in and Newcastle United lead through Dwight Gayle's neat finish.

Great chance for Lukaku! Lindelof comes forward and lofts a superb ball into the box, where Lukaku has peeled off his marker to break through. He gets his head to it but can't direct an effort on goal and nods well over.

Gayle is back up on his feet and is okay to continue.

Newcastle are looking dangerous every time they mount forward here but they might have a problem with Gayle down at the minute. Ritchie looked to accidentally trample all over him as he chased a ball into the box and he is getting some treatment.

Newcastle close again! Shelvey threads a pinpoint pass in between Young and Smalling for Gayle who again looks for that far corner, but this time it drifts inches wide.

Rashford loses the ball on the edge of the box and Newcastle pounce on the counter. Ritchie is screaming for the ball as Murphy reaches the edge of the box but he instead opts for a shot, hitting a tame effort straight at De Gea.

Newcastle take a shock lead! United concede their first goal at home in over 10 hours and it is Dwight Gayle who scores it. Yedlin races down the right channel and is picked out in plenty of space, allowing him to cut a ball back across goal. At the vital moment, Lindelof slips inside the box, allowing the ball to run through to Gayle who finds the far corner with a precise effort,

Goal! Manchester United 0-1 Newcastle United (Dwight Gayle, 13)

Hayden picks up the first yellow card of the match. Both sides take turns giving the ball away before the home side charge forward through Mata who picks up the loose ball just over the half way line only to be cut down. United launch the resulting free kick into the box but Lukaku's difficult header is easily saved by Elliot.

Newcastle win a corner and Shelvey swings a beaut in towards Clark, who should perhaps do better to get his header on target.

First chance of the game falls to Lukaku! Rashford and Valencia combine brilliantly down the right with the latter reaching the byline before pinging an inviting ball across goal. Lukaku, inside the six yard area, hits the ball over the bar, but appeals for a corner insisting the last touch came off a Newcastle player. The referee disagrees.

Hayden catches Pogba's toe, leaving the Frenchman grimacing but he trots on moments later with no trouble. United could have a problem with Mata, however; the Spaniard isn't moving too freely and Jesse Lingard has started to warm up.

A bit of a sloppy ball from de Gea leaves Lindelof in trouble, forcing the Swede to hack the ball out for a throw in. From there, Manquillo wins a free kick from Valencia out on the left flank.

And Newcastle get us underway at Old Trafford.

We are minutes away from kick-off at Old Trafford; here's one last look at those starting XIs.

Manchester United team to face Newcastle: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Martial, Lukaku

Subs: Romero, Rojo, Shaw, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Ibrahimovic

Newcastle team to face Manchester United: Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Murphy, Gayle, Joselu

Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Mbemba, Aarons, Perez, Mitrovic

Paul Pogba contributed two goals and two assists from midfield in his first four Premier League appearances before injury struck. United have missed his magic since then but after a carefully managed layoff, he could get right back to it tonight.

10 minutes from kick-off at Old Trafford.

Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho made matches between Liverpool and Chelsea much more than just another Premier League fixture; a very modern rivalry emerged with those two at the helm all those years ago. They clash again tonight with Benitez looking to make Premier League history by becoming the first Premier League manager to win at Old Trafford with three different clubs.

In 2009 he did it with Liverpool courtesy of a stunning 4-1 win, returning four years later with Chelsea where current Red Devil Juan Mata scored the winner.

Jose Mourinho has Paul Pogba back tonight but says he must "manage his minutes," maybe an indication that he will not be asked to complete the match tonight.

So what about Henrikh Mkhitaryan? No injury for him, Jose Mourinho says his omission tonight is for "tactical reasons."

Eric Bailly is a notable absentee from the Manchester United starting XI this evening and Jose Mourinho has just confirmed to BT Sport the Ivory Coast international has a knock which has ruled him out. Victor Lindelof has been drafted in to partner Chris Smalling, with Phil Jones another injury absentee.

Rafa Benitez makes two changes to his side tonight and they are both enforced with Ciaran Clark and Daryl Murphy into replace the injured Lascelles and Atsu.

There's two things that will get Manchester United fans excited from this starting XI; Paul Pogba is back and Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku all start together for the first time this season.

Jose Mourinho has made four changes in all to the side that lost to Chelsea. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not involved at all tonight, he fails to make the squad with no suggestion that he is carrying an injury.

Elsewhere, Victor Lindelof is given the nod to partner Chris Smalling at the heart of defence with Eric Bailly dropping to the bench. Ander Herrera makes way for the returning Pogba with Zlatan Ibrahimovic awaiting for his grand return off the bench.

#Pogback it is, then.

Newcastle team to face Manchester United: Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Murphy, Gayle, Joselu

Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Mbemba, Aarons, Perez, Mitrovic

Manchester United team to face Newcastle: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Martial, Lukaku

Subs: Romero, Rojo, Shaw, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Ibrahimovic

BREAKING: Paul Pogba named in the Manchester United starting XI for the first time since September.

Surely we will see this man at some point today? Here's what Jose Mourinho had to say about his comeback. "As a start, I see him on the bench and it's where I see him. It's where he's going to be tomorrow [Saturday], on the bench."

Predicted Manchester United starting XI

We expect to see the midfield partnership of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba restored this evening although a start might come just too soon for Marcos Rojo, who played for the club's Under-23 side just a couple of days ago.

With Phil Jones absent, a partnership of Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly at the back makes sense.

Elsewhere, we don't expect many other surprises with Zlatan Ibrahimovic sure to make an appearance of the bench later on. But where will he play? Could we see him take Henrikh Mkhitaryan's place in the number 10 role or could we see both him and Romelu Lukaku up front?

Predicted Newcastle United starting XI

Team news: Newcastle United

Christian Atsu, Jamaal Lascelles and Mikel Merino will all miss the trip to Old Trafford this afternoon. Atsu is recovering from a fresh injury suffered while on international duty with Ghana while Lascelles is sidelined with a foot injury suffered against Bournemouth.

Merino meanwhile is still recovering from a back problem.

Team news: Manchester United

It isn't all good news for Jose Mourinho, however. Phil Jones has returned from international duty with yet another knock, with it revealed the defender was given six injections ahead of England's friendly with Germany.

"In 17 years as a manager I don't have one single player that had injections of anaesthetic to play a friendly," said Mourinho.

Team news: Manchester United

United's injury situation looks to be clearing up nicely ahead of the busy festive period with Paul Pogba and Marcos Rojo both in a position to make their long awaited returns today.

Pogba has not played since September with his hamstring injury keeping him out of contention, while Rojo has been recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered at the end of last season.

Team news: Manchester United

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back on the scene for Manchester United; Jose Mourinho has confirmed the Swede will start on the bench this evening and will be in line to make his first appearance for the club since April.