Man United 0 - Newcastle 1: David Moyes wants Rooney and Van Persie back NOW

DAVID MOYES is desperate to team up his star strikers again.

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COLD TRAFFORD: Moyes feels the chill after back-to-back defeats [GETTY]

“It is a concern because I tried to chuck the kitchen sink at them”

David Moyes

The champions slipped to a FIFTH league defeatof the campaign and their secondat home in the space of four days.

United are closer to the drop zone than they are to leaders Arsenal and soon Moyes may have to accept that a Champions League spot is their top target.
But the Scot is refusing to throw in the towel in the title race.

He is still waiting to get his rebuilding operation going after a wasted summer in the transfer market which saw midfielder Marouane Fellaini as his only new arrival.

But the most frustrating thing has been his inability to get Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney on the pitch at the same time.

Of the eight times the star strikers have started together, United have won six and drawn two.
But the visit of Newcastle was the 14th time Moyes has had to do without one of them and United have lost four and drawn four without the lethal duo in harness. Rooney was suspended while Van Persie was feeling his way back after returning from injury.
Yohan Cabaye scored after an hour but Newcastle keeper Tim Krul was barely tested in the half-an-hour that followed.

Moyes said: "It is a concern because I tried to chuck the kitchen sink at them.
"I tried to put Antonio Valencia on to go without a right-back and get Adnan Januzaj to come in.
"We looked to try to find openings to give us a chance and we nearly put on as many attacking options as we could to try to get those chances.

"I think we've got a really good record when Robin and Wayne play together.
"But we knew at the start of the season that there would be times when players would be injured or suspended. Wayne's played great and we do miss him undoubtedly because he's a great player.

"The Manchester United supporters know about the transition. They're well aware of it.
"I don't think they hoped we'd be in this position but we've got roughly the same squad that were champions last year and we've not changed an awful lot.

DOUBLE ACT: Rooney and RVP celebrate after a win at Fulham last month [REUTERS]

"I think we can play better but there were a lot of games last year where Manchester United didn't play particularly well and maybe in a game like that sneaked it with a goal."

Former boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he talked up United's ability to come back from any situation no matter how doomed they looked to pile the psychological pressure on the opposition.

But this season under Moyes they look just as likely to cough up late goals as they do to snatch points with dramatic comebacks.
Defender Jonny Evans said: "Whenever we're chasing a goal at Old Trafford, especially at the Stretford End, we usually put teams under an enormous amount of pressure, but we didn't produce that.
"It's difficult that we've lost five games, but we won't give up."

United laboured through the opening period. They were unlucky when Patrice Evra saw his header come back off the post and then hit Toon midfielder Vernon Anita on the arm after the break.
But the Magpies grabbed the winner when Evra's header hit the back of Moussa Sissoko's head and the Newcastle man crossed for Cabaye to sweep into the corner.\

Van Persie had an effort rightly ruled out for offside as Alan Pardew's side held on for their first win at Old Trafford since 1972.
Match-winner Cabaye believes Newcastle have shown they can mix it with the big boys this term.
After their 3-0 midweek thrashing at Swansea they have now won five out of six and Cabaye feels Pardew's men can move on to another level.

The French midfielder said: "We have big respect for Manchester United, but we don't have to be afraid of anyone because we have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham and United now.
"It shows the character of the team. After we didn't do very well at Swansea, maybe it was good to be put under pressure by playing against a big team.
"It will be good for us if we can play with the same attitude in every game now."