On reflection and at the distance now of a good 48 hours, that Federico Macheda strike just gets better and better.

Player development being what it is, there are many cynics who believe we may have already seen the career defining moment of the Italian striker.

Elsewhere across our ABU media, and just as predictably, his 92nd minute heroics have highlighted the ability of the big English clubs to take advantage of other country’s strict rules on youngsters signing professional contracts. Typically, rather than focus on the likes of Fabregas and the entire Arsenal youth set-up (regularly lauded as a blueprint by Arsene’s media admirers) the press have focussed on the impact made by one United player. Fabregas has been a star of English football for the past 4 seasons, so am I paranoid in thinking that the press have saved their bile for United alone?

Anyway, back to Federico. Until Sunday’s miracle, United were mired in a striker crisis seemingly without solution. With Berbatov injured (and lackadaisacal when fit), Rooney suspended (and likely to be out again very soon when he once again fails to hold on to his temper), Tevez ineffective (he got nowhere near a goal despite a superhuman effort on Sunday) and with very few goals coming from a midfield of Giggs, Fletcher and Carrick, most us had assumed we’d be totally reliant on our number 7 once more.

What Macheda offers, and the others lack, then, is confidence. Coming off the back of a hat-trick in the reserves, the 17 year-old possessed a desire and confidence absent over the past month when our only league win in March up at Newcastle owed as much to The Magpies woeful defending. Had Tevez received the ball in the way Macheda had in the 92nd minute, we would not have won that game. The Argentine hasn’t really troubled the scorers all season and, aside from a wonder goal against Fulham in the cup, he seems to be playing from memory. Taking this into account, at the moment, Macheda, despite his youth, is probably second in the pecking order behind Rooney. In fact the prospect of such an aggressive pair linking together could transform United’s season.

As for that strike. Well it hasn’t won us anything, but I can’t remember getting as excited by a league goal since the John O’Shea winner at Anfield a couple of seasons ago, which again came at the end of a game where we were lucky to be second best. Should he never score another goal in the shirt and should united fail in their quest to match Liverpool’s title record this season, there will always be a part of every United fan’s hearts reserved for the Italian.

Forza Kiko.