HERE COMES THE CAVALRY

Struggling at 2-0 down, United make a stunning comeback with the evergreen Cavani establishing himself as a new match-winning hero

WHAT a truly incredible turnaround and comeback.

And the day when Edinson Cavani established himself as a Manchester United hero in the making.

Two goals, including the winner with 92 minutes on the clock, and an assist in a breathtaking second-half fightback led by the veteran striker.

From 2-0 down at the break and the Reds a shambles, Cavani came on and showed that class is permanent and it comes with the territory as soon as you walk through the door at Old Trafford.

Cavani, 33, was a bundle of energy. His infectious enthusiasm changed the course of the game – and poor old Southampton just could not hold on.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was an inspirational signing when he came to United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016. Cavani has taken the same route and might just have brought some stardust with him as well.

And they said United had a bad transfer window.

From the despair of the first half, the visiting bench celebrated wildly at the final whistle with the turnaround complete thanks to Cavani’s brilliance.

But that is what United are supposed to be all about – big names and big performances.

There were none for starters but they stepped up in the second half.

Quite what boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said at the interval is anyone’s guess because United were a right mess for the opening 45 minutes as they were outfought, outrun and outclassed by Saints.

But Solskjaer was the ultimate substitute as a player and has clearly got an eye for a change as a manager.

He worked his magic to bring United their eighth straight away victory in the top flight – a club record.

The win also pushes them up towards respectability in the Premier League table which seemed a long way from their grasp for some time.

Southampton were superb in the first half, they were full of energy and the players buzzed around the pitch urged on by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s encouragement from the touchline.

The Austrian screamed instructions and pushed every player. You cannot deny he is infectiously brilliant.

Southampton went ahead after 23 minutes when James Ward- Prowse sent a corner to the near post, Jan Bednarek ghosted in and glanced home.

Kyle Walker-Peters hit the post soon after.

United had their moments as keeper Alex McCarthy made amends for a poor clearance with two terrific saves to deny Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes. But it was 2- 0 after 33 minutes when Ward- Prowse curled a sensational 20-yard free-kick over the wall and with enough dip to get it down inside a post to leave keeper David De Gea scrambling in vain. Ward- Prowse has now scored nine goals direct from free-kicks in the Premier League – and only David Beckham, with 18, has more.

De Gea hurt himself colliding with the post to be replaced at the break by Dean Henderson, while Cavani came on for Greenwood.

Suddenly, Fernandes looked like a different player, Cavani resembled a real threat and Southampton were on the back foot.

United got one back when Fred and Aaron Wan-Bissaka combined before Cavani’s low cross found Fernandes, who turned and fired home just before the hour.

The leveller came after 74 minutes when Southampton failed to clear a corner, Fred teed up Fernandes and his shot was diverted into the net thanks to Cavani’s header.

Then, in added time, a Fernandes free- kick found Marcus Rashford and his clever delivery into the box was glanced in by Cavani.