Newcastle 1-0 Sacramento Republic – NUFC Match Ratings

9. Gabriel Obertan (Replaced By Rolando Aarons) - 4.5/10

Picked in favour of Yoan Gouffran which is always a positive (is it?), but the winger failed to take the opportunity handed to him by Steve McClaren. The former Manchester United man did have a couple of bursts forward which set up crucial chances for Newcastle, especially in the first half, but he failed to really make the impact that his head coach will have been looking for. This is in some part down to Sacramento, who pinned United back into their own half for long periods of the game. Obertan got through a lot of defensive work, even crucially sliding in when the home side looked to be through on goal following a clever short corner routine.

Rolando Aarons - 9/10

Rolando Aarons was that good he played with the whole United left hand side to himself. After Massadio Haidara's red card, the youngster was charged with filling in at left back, which he did. But time and time again, with only a couple of Sacramento players and green grass ahead of him, he used brutal pace and trickery to embarrass his opponent at times. It was a mind blowing performance. He did the work of two men and looked far too comfortable doing so. If he isn't a first team regular next term then serious questions need to be asked. He was taking on two, three and four players at a time and set up a number of guilt-edged opportunities for his teammates. We can't speak highly enough of Rolando's performance, he finally seems to have turned the corner with his injuries and looks set for a big season this time round.