Wayne Rooney in good shape to help out the rookies

 Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 1

Wayne Rooney proved his readiness to return to the sharp end with club and country by inspiring Manchester United's second string to a narrow Capital One Cup victory against Newcastle.

Rooney, making his first appearance since suffering a badly gashed thigh against Fulham last month, was the driving force in a team made up of fringe players and rookies which ultimately overcame Alan Pardew's team with long-range goals from Anderson and Tom Cleverley.

In front of an unusually-low Old Trafford attendance of 46,358, United were forced to weather a late Newcastle onslaught to secure their place in the fourth round. But Rooney's return, and Darren Fletcher's first 90 minutes in almost a year, were the major positives for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Although the return a lean Rooney and Fletcher's first start since taking extended leave to battle the bowel condition, ulcerative colitis, were obvious plusses, every silver lining is proving to have a cloud at United.

With Nemanja Vidic joining United's ever-increasing defensive casualty list by undergoing knee cartilage surgery earlier this week, Ferguson has been left with just two fit centre-halves with first-team experience - Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand - and neither was risked ahead of Saturday's encounter with Tottenham at Old Trafford.

As a result, the United manager named a back four in which only Alex Buttner, the recent signing from Vitesse Arnhem, could claim a previous senior start for the club. Scott Wootton and Marnick Vermijl were handed debuts, while Michael Keane, a substitute against Aldershot last season, started for the first time.

Newcastle targeted the trio in the early stages, however, as they attempted to expose United's weak link, but the young defenders stood up to the early barrage, with only one clear chance being created by Alan Pardew's team in the first half.

That came when Haris Vuckic's cross into the penalty area was headed down to Dan Gosling by Shola Ameobi, but the midfielder directed his volley over the crossbar from 10 yards.

The home side were brighter, with Rooney dropping deep to orchestrate the play. Despite a heavy grey bandage on his right thigh, presumably to protect the six-inch gash which sidelined him for more than a month, the 26 year-old was much more mobile and involved than during his ineffective performances prior to the injury.

Anderson was denied an opener when Newcastle goalkeeper Robert Elliott palmed away the Brazilian's left-foot effort after he had burst into the penalty box from midfield, while Cleverley horribly misjudged his strike on goal, shooting wide, after being found unmarked by Javier Hernandez.

Anderson, impressing in his attacking midfield role, finally made the breakthrough on 44 minutes, however, with a stunning strike from 30 yards.

The former Porto midfielder, a major disappointment since his arrival at United in May 2007, highlighted why Ferguson had persevered with his talents, though, by shaking off the attentions of Gosling and firing a left-foot strike past Elliott.

Anderson's hit-and-miss form was exemplified early in the second half. After being found unmarked on the edge of the penalty area by Danny Welbeck, Anderson skewed his shot into the second tier of the Stretford End.

Newcastle, without a major trophy since the 1969 Fairs Cup, were determined to haul themselves level and Sylvain Marveaux shot wide from a tight angle before Vuckic went close to equalising on 54 minutes. The Slovenian forward beat Keane after being fed by Fabricio Coloccini but his placed effort flew narrowly wide of David De Gea's far post.

Cleverley's strike four minutes later appeared to have put the home side in a comfort zone and the next round, but Cisse's headed equaliser from Shane Ferguson's cross reignited hope for Newcastle.

Once again, De Gea's inability to deal with crosses contributed to a goal being conceded, with the Spaniard rooted to his line as Ferguson's delivery bisected his six-yard box before reaching Cisse at the far post.

Buoyed by the goal, Newcastle pushed forward, forcing Ferguson's team to break on the counter-attack and Hernandez almost made it 3-1 when he struck the crossbar on 66 minutes. Cisse then hit the woodwork at the other end with a perfectly-executed overhead kick from Ameobi's flick-on. It was an effort which deserved a goal, but Cisse's luck was out, just like Newcastle's.

Manchester United: De Gea; Vermijl (Tunnicliffe 77), M Keane, Wootton, Buttner (Brady 85); Cleverley, Fletcher, Anderson; Rooney (Powell 77); Hernandez, Welbeck. Subs: Johnstone (g), Evans, Lindgarde, King.

Newcastle: Elliott; Tavernier, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch; Marveaux, Gosling, Tiote (Bigirlmana 71), Obertan; Shola Ameobi, Vuckic (Cisse 61). Subs: Harper (g), Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi. Booked: Tiote, Bigirlmana.

Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).