Manchester’s squad was noticeably absent ahead of Sunday’s game against the Magpies.
Christian Eriksen, 30, was unavailable to play due to illness, and the Danish playmaker’s absence was conspicuous.
United were missing teeth in the final third, wasting the few chances that came their way.
They were equally hungry for creativity in the middle of the park.
The Theater of Dreams was remarkably uninspired.
Gary Neville (via The Mail Online) felt Eriksen’s presence would have made a clear difference to United’s disappointing display.
“Eriksen didn’t play and it seemed like he was missed,” Neville said.
“When he’s not playing, maybe you realize what a great player he is because he connects and brings the team together.”
Gary Neville confirmed that another United legend echoed the same sentiments about the missing Dane.
‘He has that pass through the lanes very quickly. He sees things; he looks over his shoulder. He is scanning all the time.
It’s Paul Scholes who told me that, by the way.
‘I just felt the balance was off. It wasn’t quite the same flow without him on the team.
While United have been in decent form since a disappointing start to the season, they still sit outside the top four, having widened the gap between them and fourth-placed Chelsea.
The Red Devils host Tottenham on Wednesday, and with ongoing questions about Eriksen’s fitness, they hope they can find the spark they need to find the back of the net. 
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