Ranking the 12 stars who played for Man Utd and Newcastle from Owen to Saha

When Manchester United host Newcastle at Old Trafford on Sunday, there may be a few people torn about who to support.

A total of 12 players featured for both clubs over the course of their careers, with some flopping and others becoming cult heroes. They will be watching with interest to see if Erik ten Hag's men can make it back-to-back Premier League victories, or if Eddie Howe's Magpies can claim a statement win.

The group spent varying amounts of time at the two clubs, though most of them appeared for the Red Devils first. Here, Mirror Football ranks all 12 players from worst to best ahead of the meeting of their former clubs at Old Trafford.

12. Giuseppe Rossi

Branded a wonderkid as he came through Manchester United's academy, Giuseppe Rossi ultimately failed to make the grade. He made 14 appearances in total for the Red Devils' senior team, but was unable to impress.

Rossi spent six months on loan at Newcastle, where he made 11 appearances and scored just one goal. The former Italian international retired earlier this year after spells in La Liga, Serie A and the MLS.

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11. Gabriel Obertan

Much was expected of Gabriel Obertan when he arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 2009. But the Frenchman failed to impress at Old Trafford, making only 14 Premier League appearances across his two seasons with the club.

He was sold to Newcastle in 2011, but he was relegated to the role of being a bit-part player following a mildly-successful debut season. At one point, he was placed on the transfer list, but a buyer failed to materialise.

10. Keith Gillespie

A member of the Class of '92, Keith Gillespie was unable to hit the heights of his team-mates in that youth squad. His opportunities at Old Trafford were limited by the fact that Andrei Kanchelskis was Sir Alex Ferguson's first-choice right-winger.

As a result of that lack of game time, he was sold to Newcastle in the summer of 1995. He became a regular at St James' Park, helping them to reach the FA Cup final in 1998, before retiring in 2013.

9. Danny Simpson

Like Rossi, Danny Simpson also came through the academy at Manchester United, but spent most of his time at Old Trafford out on loan. His best season for the Red Devils came in 2007/2008, when he made eight appearances - the only times he ever wore the famous shirt.

His final loan move was to Newcastle, which was made permanent after six months. He became a reliable player for the Magpies before going on to win the Premier League title with Leicester.

8. Liam O'Brien

The final signing Ron Atkinson made as manager, Liam O'Brien saw his opportunities limited when Ferguson took charge. He left for Newcastle in 1988, playing a key role as they won the second tier 1993, before ending his career in the Republic of Ireland.

7. Alan Smith

A regular for Manchester United after joining from Leeds, Alan Smith was once compared to Roy Keane by Ferguson. A horrific broken leg in 2006 derailed his career at the Red Devils and he saw his opportunities diminish on his return.

He joined Newcastle in 2007, regularly captaining the side in his first few seasons on Tyneside. But a number of injuries and the form of other players ultimately saw Smith lose his place in the side and he was released in 2012.

6. Ronny Johnsen

Jaap Stam's partner at centre-back in the 1999 Champions League final, Ronny Johnsen had a massively successful start to his career at Manchester United. He won four Premier League titles with the Red Devils, but amid decreasing game time left for Aston Villa in 2002.

After two years at Villa Park, he joined Newcastle, but made just five appearances for the Magpies before being released due to fitness concerns. He then spent four years in his native Norway and retired in 2008.

5. Louis Saha

One of the only players on this list to play for Newcastle first, Louis Saha spent six months on loan at the Magpies from Metz in 1999. He scored just one goal during his spell at St James' Park, though, before returning to France.

After an impressive four-year spell with Fulham, Saha was sold to the Red Devils. He would become a cult figure at Old Trafford, scoring 42 goals in five years and winning two Premier League titles.

4. Michael Owen

Newcastle fans may be irked to see Michael Owen's name so high up this list given their fractured relationship with him. He scored 30 goals in four seasons with the Magpies, with his time there heavily disrupted by injuries and rumours that he wanted to leave.

He was eventually granted that wish in 2009, when he moved to the Red Devils on a free transfer. Owen scored 17 goals for Manchester United, winning the Premier League before ending his career with a season-long spell at Stoke City.

3. Peter Beardsley

Manchester United fans would be forgiven for forgetting Beardsley turned out for the Red Devils. He had a fleeting year-long spell at Old Trafford where he made just one appearance before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps.

It was at Newcastle where he made his name, becoming a cult figure during his four years at the club. He scored 61 goals and became a regular in the England national team before joining Liverpool.

2. Nicky Butt

After graduating from Manchester United's academy, Nicky Butt became a solid option in midfield. He even earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year in 1998. Towards the end of his time at Old Trafford, he was mostly used off the bench, though he still made over 380 appearances.

He left for Newcastle in 2004 and, after a disappointing two seasons, finally became a regular starter for the Magpies. He was named club captain in 2009, with that being his final campaign in English football.

1. Andy Cole

One of the greatest players in Premier League history, there can be no doubting Andy Cole's place at the top of this list. 55 of the 187 goals he scored in the top flight came for Newcastle.

He left in a shock move to Manchester United in January 1995 and continued to be one of England's most-feared strikers. Cole scored more than 100 times in all competitions for the Red Devils, winning five Premier League titles and earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year in 2000.

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