Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga is allowing new Manchester United signing to flourish without scrutiny

It's easy to forget the importance of a player when there is so much attention and focus placed on other individuals - even when they want to leave the club, or haven't even joined yet.

After four Premier League matches, Manchester United have won two and lost two. While it is certainly not the start to the season that Erik ten Hag will have envisaged, it's probably about right for where United are right now.

The defeats against Brighton and Brentford were damming, but the players stood up and responded against Liverpool and Southampton. Ten Hag's men delivered a spectacular battling performance to beat Jurgen Klopp's side earlier in the week, and showed a completely different side to themselves in the win over Saints on Saturday.

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A visit to St Mary's is never easy, never mind after a shaky start to the campaign. Yet, when Bruno Fernandes' stunning strike just ten minutes from time hit the back of the net, it was hard to argue against United deserving their lead. While the home side will feel unfortunate not to have taken anything from the game, Ten Hag's men did what they needed to, and did it well.

Fernandes combined with countryman Diogo Dalot for the goal - giving Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu absolutely no chance. In a game of little quality, it was a moment of class.

Much of the focus before the game, unsurprisingly, was on Cristiano Ronaldo. With the Portuguese once again on the bench, speculation around his future intensified. While everyone involved with United is desperate for the situation to be resolved, however that may be, there are positives in the fact that the veteran striker dominates the headlines.

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