But going into the game Sir Alex Ferguson's troops were on the rebound from a footballing lesson. Only four days earlier they had been humbled in a 3-1 defeat in the Santiago Bernabeu by Real Madrid. The anti-United critics were sharpening their knives in anticipation of more agony for the Old Trafford club, this was a game the away side was expected to struggle in. But the Champions League chokers became domestic deities in front of the live television cameras in a surreal Saturday morning show of strength.

Having survived Alan Shearer's early attempts to unsettle them by clattering into Roy Keane and Mikael Silvestre, United got off to the worst possible start as Jermaine Jenas' tremendous 25-yard strike had them one down after 21 minutes. The reshuffled defence failed to clear after Fabien Barthez had parried a Craig Bellamy volley and Jenas lashed the ball in spectacularly. However, as everybody feared the Reds would crumble, the fighting spirit of champions shone through.

United simply grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and from then on, there was only one side in it - and two left in the title race. The Toon were simply steamrollered into submission by an ominous United as four goals in 12 minutes silenced a stunned St James' Park. First Giggs played a sharp one-two with van Nistelrooy before hooking a diagonal ball between defenders and beyond a flat back line for Solskjaer, onside, to chest down and volley past a helpless Shay Given.

Then Scholes exchanged delightful one-touch passes with Giggs and drilled the return inside the near post as United again made inroads down the left - where John O'Shea showed that there is still a bright future for football's most famous production line.

Wes Brown even joined in the attack for the third as Giggs drifted in past the hapless Aaron Hughes, squared to the defender whose simple lay-off was positively lashed into the top right-hand corner with venom from 18 yards by the onrushing Scholes.

Then with Newcastle and Sir Bobby Robson desperately seeking the sanctuary of half-time, O'Shea danced past two tackles and crashed an angled shot against the bar. The rebound could have been cleared by Titus Bramble, but came off his shin and fell invitingly for the much-maligned Giggs. As the net beckoned he made it four with a powerful right footed strike.

Each time captain Keane was first to lead the celebrations. He may not be as quick to every midfield contest any more, but the fire is still in the belly and burning brightly enough to have the butterflies fluttering in north London.

United could have eased off with Arsenal and Real Madrid coming up, but with Scholes summing up a performance that harked back to their glory days of not so long ago and seeking a hat-trick, they simply picked up where they left off and made it 5-1 within seven minutes of the restart.

Again Bramble was at fault as his poor defensive header dropped for Solskjaer to send Gary Neville - left out but restored at the expense of O'Shea at the interval - to gallop unattended into the box and cut back to present Scholes with the simplest of his treble. All he had to do was pass the ball into the net as he had be left totally unmarked. How Scholes and United will now be ruing the suspension that keeps him out of the second leg against Real.

Number six came from the spot and put van Nistelrooy on the score sheet against Newcastle for the fourth time this season. Bramble was again the fall guy as his needless trip on sub Diego Forlan allowed the Dutchman to stroke home his 18th successful penalty in succession for his 36th of an excellent season. And this time he changed his style, instead of accuracy and power he simply sent the keeper the wrong way.

Newcastle though, have spirit in a abundance, and did their best to dent United's goal difference as Bellamy twice and Loman LuaLua were denied by Barthez, but when the Frenchman fluffed a clearing kick at the death Shola Ameobi pounced and made him pay in full. The England Under-21 star had already sent Keane hobbling off with a dead leg and left Barthez needing treatment after kicking the ground, and could yet have a bigger say in the destination of the Premiership than his side did today.

Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledged the win came at just the right time, with next week's Premiership clash at title rivals Arsenal now foremost in his mind. Ferguson told Sky Sports: "It's a great confidence boost - no question about that. We played very well and created some good openings. It was a matter of being patient and when we got back into the game we played some fantastic football."

The Scot also believed United have emerged stronger from Tuesday's 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League, when they were outplayed for long periods. He continued: "We learned from it. A lot of our players are young so it was good to get the experience from Madrid and come here knowing it was such an important game - and produce. "We would have accepted this score before the game! We're set up nicely now and have got to the position I hoped we would get to some months ago."

It meant United went into the massive showdown with Arsenal at Highbury the following Wednesday, three points clear at the top and, crucially, just one behind on goal difference. It also saw Newcastle knocked out of the title race after only their second home defeat of the season. Quite what the effect of this result had on Arsene Wenger's Arsenal was uncertain but they had probably been expecting this would be the game that United would drop points. When they didn't and in fact won magnificently, it was a definite blow to morale. The title that had so long seemed destined to Highbury was now up for grabs and whilst Arsenal were scrambling results, Sir Alex Ferguson's troops were firing on all cylinders.

The message from United could not have been louder and it could not have been clearer, "We want our trophy back!!!"