Ruud van Nistelrooy role in Manchester United win showed they can wait for Ruben Amorim

For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2018, read Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2024. A much-loved former fan favourite returns to lift the gloom at Manchester United with a free-flowing five-star performance. Ruud is at the wheel.

This time, however well the audition goes, his licence will remain temporary. Van Nistelrooy already knows that, which is why he was making the most of this demolition of a dismal Leicester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round. It's a bit early for festive references, but United's past, present and future all had an interest and an investment in proceedings.

Van Nistelrooy relished every minute of an opportunity he probably had an idea would come when he joined Erik ten Hag's backroom staff in the summer. Back in the Netherlands, Ten Hag might have launched his TV out of the window when he saw his players find the composure and good fortune in front of goal that was so lacking during the final weeks of his reign.

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Somewhere in Lisbon, Ruben Amorim would have been a more than interested observer, even if he has to continue to pledge loyalty to a club he is leaving. His Sporting farewell could drag on into the middle of November, but his focus will clearly begin shifting to Old Trafford.

He has a game on Friday to prepare for, but in this United performance he got a clear vision of what he is getting. There are flaws, but there is also plenty of talent. What he didn't see - and is unlikely to see until he officially starts work - is his favoured back three formation.

Van Nistelrooy's brief is to deliver short-term results and rebuild confidence ahead of Amorim's arrival. He is also making the most of the connection he has at this club. He wasn't shy about renewing a relationship with these supporters even while he was Ten Hag's assistant. He has been soaking up acclaim for several weeks now, even as United stumbled, and his passion for the club he represented 219 times as a player is clear.

This was his first game as United manager and he doesn't know how many more he will get. He is a placeholder until Amorim arrives, so if this was to be his one and only chance to lead a team at Old Trafford, he intented to make the most of it.

Dressed all in black, he emerged from the tunnel and raised both fists towards the Stretford End, roaring at the supporters who idolised him as a player. They responded with a loud and prolonged cry of 'Ruuuud'. The footballing gods were smiling on him as well.

Had United not missed 22 of their 27 big chances in the Premier League this season, or produced a catalogue of blunders in front of goal on Sunday, then Ten Hag might still have been in charge. He watched his players miss a succession of presentable chances, then the first goal they scored with him no longer in charge was Casemiro sticking one in the top corner from 30 yards.

The look of shock on Van Nistelrooy's face said it all. He raised both hands to the heavens and then punched the air several times. He knows a finish when he sees one and he was punching the air again when Alejandro Garnacho found the back of the net.

The Argentine missed a couple of excellent chances on Sunday, but when Diogo Dalot got the benefit of a tight offside decision and sent in a low centre, Garnacho lifted a first-time shot into the roof of the net. It was the finish of a winger who really should be capable of 20 goals a season and as he went to celebrate in the far corner, Van Nistelrooy told Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelof and Casemiro to go and join the celebrations. He wanted unity.

He was loving every minute on the touchline, even pleading Steve Cooper's case for him when the Leicester City boss was booked by referee Michael Salisbury. A minute later, Cooper's team were back in it. Altay Bayindir's weak punch showed why he doesn't get many games and the mistake was punished ruthlessly by Bilal El Khannouss, who sent a skimming half-volley in off the post.

It was the type of unexpected blow that would have sunk United in recent weeks, but nothing was going to derail them this time. There were shades of Solskjaer's first game in charge in how quickly a struggling, low-on-confidence side had been turned into an unstoppable attacking force.

The luck that Ten Hag felt constantly deserted them was back in abundance as well. Bruno Fernandes' 20-yard free-kick looked like being routine for Danny Ward before it hit James Justin and went in. Casemiro's header from a Marcus Rashford cross then hit both posts but dropped back at his feet and he made no mistake at the second time of asking.

There was still time for a sixth goal in the first half. Casemiro couldn't stretch enough to head clear Luke Thomas' free-kick, only flicking the ball against an unsuspecting Dalot, with the ricochet offering Conor Coady a tap-in.

That gave the Foxes momentum early in the second half, but United rode out the storm and killed the game off when Caleb Okoli's weak back pass was seized on by Fernandes, who dummied Ward and smashed the ball home from two yards.

Van Nistelrooy soaked up the acclaim on his way back to the tunnel. There was a wave to all four stands before he stood in front of the Stretford End and applauded the supporters for several seconds.

It had the whiff of a goodbye, but maybe he will get to do it all again on Sunday. Van Nistelrooy's win extended an impressive record for former players given the keys to Old Trafford on a temporary basis.

The Dutchman joined Ryan Giggs, Solskjaer and Michael Carrick in being placed in temporary charge of the team since 2014. Their record as interim managers is now 19 wins from 27 games, with 59 goals scored. Perhaps Darren Fletcher should get a go next.