New boy Larsson faces old mentor

Senior citizen
Sixty-five on 31 December, Sir Alex has reached pensionable age but just as his ambition remains undimmed, so he is hoping the introduction of on-loan striker Henrik Larsson - at 35, a senior citizen in football terms - can give extra impetus to a United side already flying high at the top of the Premiership. English football will get its first glimpse of the man who struck 242 goals in 315 appearances north of the border for Celtic FC, when Aston Villa FC visit in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Respect for O'Neill
Third-round weekend, when the top-flight clubs enter the fray, remains a much-anticipated date in the English calendar and that Villa provide the opposition gives this all-Premiership fixture extra flavour for it was under Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, that Larsson enjoyed some of his finest moments in a Celtic shirt. In four years playing under O'Neill, Larsson collected seven trophies and the Swede said this week: "Martin O'Neill is a man I have the greatest respect for. I had some great times with him in Scotland. I still talk with him quite regularly. It is ironic my first game could be against Aston Villa."

'Goal instinct'
United may be the Premiership's leading scorers yet neither Wayne Rooney nor Louis Saha has found the net in their last five matches and the option of calling on Larsson's "tremendous goal instinct", as Sir Alex puts it, can only boost a team targeting success on three fronts - the Premiership, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup. "We needed an experienced player," said the United manager. "He may be here for a short period but that may be the most important period in this club's season."

No gamble
Sir Alex has been served well by an older head before: a 35-year-old Teddy Sheringham's efforts in United's 2001 title triumph earned him the Footballer of the Year crown. With Larsson, the gamble appears minimal. Since his match-turning farewell appearance as a substitute for FC Barcelona in last May's UEFA Champions League final, the Swede has shown he retains his Midas touch, helping his home-town club Helsingborgs IF lift the Swedish Cup prior to accepting the offer of a three-month Indian summer at Old Trafford.

'Fantastic condition'
O'Neill for one has no doubt that, even in his mid-30s, Larsson can cope with the physical demands of the Premiership. "I wouldn't start worrying too much about his age, he is naturally fit and keeps himself in fantastic condition." Larsson famously carried the fight to José Mourinho's FC Porto in the 2003 UEFA Cup final, equalising twice before Celtic eventually succumbed in extra time. Four years on, United hope he can prove a thorn in Mourinho's side again, but first Larsson will seek to extinguish the cup hopes of his erstwhile mentor, O'Neill. Although they held Chelsea to a 0-0 midweek draw, few would bet on a positive outcome for an injury-riddled Villa team already beaten twice by United at this stage of the knockout competition in the last five years.