Cristiano Ronaldo still offers Manchester United something that nobody else does

It is two-and-a-half years since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer memorably stated he wanted to sign a striker who would be willing to 'break their nose in order' to score a goal. On Saturday night, Cristiano Ronaldo almost did exactly that.

Although he had a scrappy game, the Portuguese forward wasn't afraid to put his body on the line and got a bloodied nose to show for it, as he challenged Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik for a high ball, taking a fist to the face.

"We need more goalscorers, more goals, someone who wants to break their nose or toe to score," Solskjaer previously warned. "It doesn’t always have to be nice goals. I need to challenge them more.”

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Manchester United's response was to sign Odion Ighalo on a short-term deal before Edinson Cavani was signed in the following window. They both fitted the brief as something different in attack; players who existed solely for the purpose of putting the ball into the net.

A year ago, Cavani was kept when his powers were dwindling and Solskjaer couldn't resist the temptation of re-signing Ronaldo, a seismic summer transfer that sent shockwaves through the footballing world.

Ronaldo prospered with 24 goals in 37 appearances; United did not. A tedious debate remains about whether or not they were better or worse without the Portuguese, and it is one that continues to divide the fanbase.

The 37-year-old is now a back-up option at United, but he remains the poster boy of Portugal at international level, even if he is being outshone by many of his teammates, two of whom share the Old Trafford limelight.

With a lack of playing time this season, Ronaldo appeared a little rusty on Saturday night, in a bizarre appearance that saw him