One stray pass in particular, which should have teed up Javier Hernandez for a winner but was easily intercepted by Chico Flores, was the final straw for furious United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, and Rooney was hauled off shortly after.

The frontman admits he was below his best and is glad the crowded festive fixture list will give him a rapid chance to make amends, starting when Alan Pardew’s Magpies visit Old Trafford today.

Rooney said: “I could feel it (was not going to be my day) on the pitch. Some days you have an off day I could feel that and I couldn’t complain at being substituted.

“I think the thing about football, and especially over the Christmas period, is that you have games and this game has gone for me and it is certainly not one I will remember, but I will relish the next one.

“The position we are in at the minute, it is a great opportunity to make that gap at the top of the table even bigger.”

United hold a four-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table after their first draw of the season.

And Rooney is targeting back-to-back wins against Newcastle and West Brom as the Red Devils look to extend their advantage over local rivals Manchester City.

“We are still in a good position with two home games coming up,” Rooney added. “We need to make sure we take maximum points from them. We know it’s early days and there is a long way to go, but we are in a healthy position at the moment so we need to try and keep on.”