<p>Harry Maguire said a 16-day COVID-19 break had done Manchester United no favours after they salvaged a 1-1 draw at Premier League strugglers Newcastle, leaving them seven points off the top four.</p>
<h2>Allan scores opener</h2>
<p>Ralf Rangnick&rsquo;s men needed a 71st-minute equaliser from half-time substitute Edinson Cavani after Allan Saint-Maximin scored a superb early opener, and were indebted to David de Gea for a series of fine saves.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img title="Manchester United&rsquo;s Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring against Newcastle at St James Park in Newcastle on Monday. Pic/Getty Images" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2021/dec/edinson-drawn-a_e.jpg" alt="Manchester United&rsquo;s Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring against Newcastle at St James Park in Newcastle on Monday. Pic/Getty Images" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Manchester United&rsquo;s Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring against Newcastle at St James Park in Newcastle on Monday. Pic/Getty Images</em></strong></p>
<p>It was United&rsquo;s first match since December 11 after a COVID-19 outbreak forced them to close their training complex&mdash;Victor Lindelof was absent from St James&rsquo; Park after testing positive.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;No 16-day break in the middle of a football season is going to help you,&rdquo; Maguire told Manchester United&rsquo;s official website. &ldquo;The training ground has been shut and half the lads playing today are recovering from the virus, so of course it&rsquo;s not going to help us.&rdquo; But the England international defender said United could not make excuses for their sloppy performance.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;You can look at that and ask whether the last 16 days had a big impact on that because it looked like we ran out of steam out there. We&rsquo;ve got to stay on the ball, we&rsquo;ve got to stay active and we&rsquo;ve got to play the ball in their half and we didn&rsquo;t manage to do that,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>&lsquo;We&rsquo;re disappointed&rsquo;</h2>
<p>&ldquo;A point in the end is a fair result, but it&rsquo;s a result that we&rsquo;re disappointed with.&rdquo; The draw means United are seven points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with two games in hand.</p><p>
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Harry Maguire says 16-day pandemic break did Man Utd no favours; Cavani scores in 1-1 draw with Newcastle

Manchester United's Harry Maguire: We ran out of steam

Allan scores opener

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