A REFLECTIVE Glenn Roeder last night insisted full-back Peter Ramage retained his full confidence, despite the full-back's calamitous individual error condemning Newcastle to their first defeat under his caretaker control.

And, after admitting the defender faces a test of his mental resolve, the United boss backed the 22-year-old to bounce back from his mistake in next weekend's glamour clash with Liverpool.

Ramage's shocking eighth-minute backpass afforded Wayne Rooney a clear run on goal, with the Manchester United striker calmly lobbing a stranded Shay Given to undermine the Magpies' early efforts at Old Trafford.

With Rooney also brushing him aside to add a second, Ramage's fraught first-half display was symptomatic of the general malaise that infected the whole of Newcastle's play.

But, with the youngster having been one of his side's few success stories this season, Roeder insisted he was capable of emerging as a stronger person thanks to the experience of his uncharacteristic mistake.

"No-one in there has criticised Peter Ramage," said the Magpies manager. "Every top player, at some point in his career, has made a mistake like that. What he mustn't do is make it again - he has to learn from it.

"I've told him, 'Now, you have to be very brave'. He accepts it was a mistake. I have told him not to hide away, but to stand up to be counted.

"He will want to be in the team against Liverpool and I am sure he will be. He will want to have a great game. It's a test of character for him now - I personally think he will pass that test."

Ramage was far from the only Newcastle player to have under-performed yesterday, with the likes of Charles N'Zogbia and Shola Ameobi also producing distinctly below-par displays.

That Manchester United failed to add to Rooney's early double was more to do with their profligacy than any improvement in Newcastle's performance.

"United had plenty of chances," admitted Roeder, who also joked he was "preparing for the sack" after losing his unbeaten record in his seventh game in charge. "But for whatever reason, and it was nothing of our making, they missed them.

"Some of the younger players lost confidence.

"They seemed to lack confidence and became concerned about the way the game was going because we conceded two goals in such quick succession. We went from starting reasonably brightly to losing a poor goal and it all carried on from there.

"This was our sternest test - we knew that before we came here - and some have performed well on the day and some haven't. You need 11 excellent performances when you come here and, if not, it becomes nearly impossible to get a result."

It becomes even more impossible when you are faced with a rampant Rooney.

The England international produced a virtuoso striking display full of pace and poise that exposed the shortcomings in Newcastle defence to devastating effect.

"Wayne has by no means fulfilled his full potential," said Roeder. "Given time, he can become the world's number one player. He has strength and pace - the two main attributes needed to be a world-class star - and he links those with his supreme ability.

"Even with all the information in the world, it is hard to nullify the threat of a player like that. I just wish we had him at Newcastle."