Will Cristiano Ronaldo start for Manchester United against Newcastle? Man Utd star Fantasy Premier League tip

Cristiano Ronaldo has had one of those weeks he’s unlikely to forget any time soon.

After sealing a sensational deadline day return to Manchester United, the Portuguese forward then broke the men’s international goalscoring record.

A late brace for Portugal against Ireland saw Ronaldo take his international tally to 111, surpassing the 109 scored by previous record holder Ali Daei of Iran.

While Man Utd shirt sales continue to set new records after it was confirmed Ronaldo would wear the number 7 jersey conveniently vacated by striker Edinson Cavani.

Fans have rushed out to get Ronaldo’s replica shirt and number ahead of his second Man United debut - but when will that come during the Premier League 2021/22 season?

Here’s when Ronaldo could line up again for the Red Devils and if Fantasy Premier League managers should include him in their squads ahead of United vs Newcastle on Saturday.

Will Ronaldo start?

Following the international break, the Premier League season continues on Saturday 11 September when Crystal Palace face Tottenham Hotspur at 12.30pm.

Manchester United will resume their campaign against Newcastle United at Old Trafford in a standard 3pm kick off on 11 September, in a game not scheduled for live TV.

Yet all the pre-match talk has been dominated by one man - Cristiano Ronaldo - and if the forward will start for Man Utd in their first match after the international break.

Having completed a mega two-year deal to United, with the option of a third, fans as well as Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers want to know what’s going on with Ronaldo.

With so many international players plying their trade in the Premier League, the first game back from the break can be a tricky balancing act for many FPL managers eager for points.

The paperwork has been done, Ronaldo is in the country and he has been listed as one of the forwards available for selection on the game’s database in time for Gameweek 4.

Ronaldo goes in straight at the top of the charts - priced at £12.5m - more expensive than fellow strikers Harry Kane (£12.3m), Romelu Lukaku (£11.5m) and Jamie Vardy (£10.5m).

So, will Ronaldo play against Newcastle United?

Manchester United confirmed Ronaldo had arrived in the United Kingdom on the evening of Thursday 2 September, just days after his transfer from Juventus.

It comes after Ronaldo was released early from international duty having picked up a yellow card in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Ireland in a World Cup 2022 qualifier on Wednesday 1 September.

Ronaldo scored twice in the game to top the all-time international goalscorer charts but was also shown a yellow card for taking off his shirt in celebration after scoring the winner against Ireland.

It meant he was suspended for Portugal’s next match, against Azerbaijan on Tuesday 7 September, and was released from the squad earlier than expected by Fernando Santos.

Having landed in the UK on Thursday, Ronaldo began five days of self isolation under the UK government’s Covid quarantine protocol for arriving in the country from Portugal.

In order to be released after five days he must test negative for Covid on day two and day five before joining up with the Manchester United squad for training ahead of Newcastle.

It means he could train with Man Utd from Wednesday 8 September and would put him in contention for a starting place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side for the visit of Newcastle United.

A home game would seem like the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Ronaldo to the Old Trafford faithful and the onlookers wondering if he can hit the highs of his first spell at the club.

What shirt number will Ronaldo wear at Manchester United?

On the same evening he arrived in Manchester, the club announced Ronaldo would wear the number 7 shirt he vacated 12 years ago when he left for Real Madrid.

It meant Edinson Cavani, who had been given the no.7 jersey at the start of the season, had to switch numbers to allow Ronaldo to take on the number and the CR7 branding.

The move saw ‘Ronaldo 7’ break new records with £32.5m raised through shirt sales in the first 12 hours of them going on sale.