Manchester United's bid to reach the European Cup quarter-finals for a seventh successive season is rapidly turning into a showcase for the talents of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Having bludgeoned Basle with two goals in Switzerland a fortnight ago, he emulated that feat again last night as Deportivo La Coruna were out-fought, out-thought and eventually outplayed.
Van Nistelrooy has now equalled Andy Cole's record of having scored 18 Champions League goals for the club and, on a night of individual and collective success, it will need a capitulation now for Sir Alex Ferguson's side not to reach the knock-out stages.
Two games against Juventus lurk beyond the winter hibernation, a six-day spell in February that will be critical in determining the outcome of Group D. Yet United are now playing with such vigour - their tally of 21 goals in eight Champions League games is the best in Europe - that they need not harbour any trepidation. United, for the time being at least, are playing like a team with serious aspirations of sustained success in this competition.
There have been many factors in the renaissance. Juan Sebastian Veron's own resurgence has been one of the more endearing aspects. A real sense of togetherness has been apparent, plus a realisation that new leadership was needed. Yet, without any doubt, the one thing that Ferguson can cling to more than any other is the imperious form of his leading scorer. Van Nistelrooy, maybe even more than Roy Keane right now, feels irreplaceable.