On this day: Wayne Rooney brace guides Manchester United past Newcastle United

A decade ago, Wayne Rooney was only just beginning to settle into life as a Manchester United player, but the future captain would give the club's supporters plenty of moments to savour in his first season.

Rooney would have to wait until 2007 to claim his first Premier League title with United as Jose Mourinho's Chelsea dominated English football for two years.

However, some of Rooney's best moments in a United shirt would come in those first couple of seasons as he displayed to everyone who would take notice just how much talent he possessed.

It was on this day in 2004 when Rooney struck twice to lead his team to a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park.

United started the day 14 points behind leaders Chelsea, and the early signs were worrying for Sir Alex Ferguson as Roy Carroll was forced to keep out a powerful free kick from Alan Shearer.

Rooney then relieved the pressure on the visitors by opening the scoring with an emphatic volley after being picked out by Darren Fletcher's clever chipped pass.

The England forward's influence on the game grew after he broke the deadlock, and he was involved once again as he released Cristiano Ronaldo, who evaded a challenge from Titus Bramble before seeing his low strike saved by Shay Given.

Both sides missed chances either side of the half-time interval, before Shearer levelled the scores with a fine finish from the edge of the box after dispossessing Wes Brown on the wing.

Newcastle were level for only three minutes as United regained the lead through Ruud van Nistelrooy, who fired home from the penalty spot after Given had fouled Paul Scholes while attempting to claim a cross in a congested box.

The Magpies were unable to produce a late response late on, and it was left to Rooney to wrap up the win from close range following Bramble's clearance off the line to deny Van Nistelrooy.

"Today's performance will do nothing but encourage them," Ferguson told reporters. "Some of our football was excellent. Winning today was good for us; this is a very difficult place to come."

Ferguson may have been optimistic about his side's chances in November, but not even the United icon could prevent Mourinho's side from storming to the title as the Red Devils were forced to settle for third spot.

Newcastle: Given, Carr (O'Brien 18), Bramble, Johnsen, Bernard, Bowyer (Dyer 54), Butt, Jenas, Bellamy, Shearer, Kluivert (Robert 62)

Man Utd: Carroll, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre (Brown 57), Heinze, Fletcher (Giggs 75), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo (Smith 83), van Nistelrooy, Rooney.