IN the end, Cristiano Ronaldo's Old Trafford homecoming was a lot happier than Steve Bruce's.

Ronaldo enjoyed a fairytale return to the Theatre of Dreams as his brace helped Manchester United to a comprehensive victory, but while the Portuguese forward was serenaded from the stands, Bruce was forced to listen to chants from his own supporters calling for him to be dismissed. Those calls will almost certainly increase in volume again if Newcastle do not claim a first win of the season against Leeds on Friday night.

Saturday was all about Ronaldo, with the 36-year-old stepping out at his old stomping ground in a red shirt for the first time in 12 years and 118 days. It was a sight few ever expected to see again and Ronaldo, ever the showman, rose to the occasion.

The frontman opened the scoring and put United back ahead after Javier Manquillo had levelled for Newcastle, with Bruno Fernandes’ stunner and a fine Jesse Lingard goal sealing a 4-1 victory at a bouncing Old Trafford.

It was a memorable occasion that saw deafening roars greet Ronaldo’s name being read out, let alone in response to his goals which he celebrated with the customary jump into the corner with his arms by his side.

Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance along with rarely-spotted co-chairman Avram Glazer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, with Newcastle’s resolve being broken in first-half stoppage time.

Ronaldo had a simple tap-in after Freddie Woodman spilled a deflected Mason Greenwood effort, but the hosts had looked shaky defensively and Manquillo fired home after a fine Newcastle break early in the second half.

But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were not to be denied.

Luke Shaw superbly threaded through Ronaldo to fire home in front of the Stretford End, with compatriot Fernandes scoring a 25-yard rocket before substitute Lingard wrapped things up in stoppage time.

The match was a fitting end to the hullabaloo that followed Ronaldo’s return, with number seven shirts old and new filling the ground as home fans cheered his every move.

But it was not all positivity towards the forward. As well as chants by Newcastle fans, a banner was flown over Old Trafford in support of the woman who accused Ronaldo of rape – an allegation he denies.

Newcastle had ten men behind the ball out of possession and were leaving precious little space, but United found a way through in stoppage time. Greenwood cut in and hit a left-footed shot that took a slight deflection and Woodman spilled into the path of Ronaldo who turned it into the empty net.

The veteran wheeled away to the corner in celebration, with fans’ ‘Viva Ronaldo’ chants continuing into half-time.

But just 11 minutes into the second half Newcastle were level. Miguel Almiron turned superbly and skipped beyond Maguire at the halfway line before passing across to Allan Saint-Maximin, who directed it on for the overlapping Manquillo to fire beyond David De Gea.

The visitors’ break was as impressive as United’s defending was poor, but the hosts made amends in the 62nd minute. Shaw burst forward and superbly played through Ronaldo, who stayed strong under pressure to fire a low left-footed strike through Woodman’s legs in front of the rocking Stretford End.

Fernandes collected the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner, before Lingard added a fourth with a stoppage-time finish.