Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paid tribute to Edinson Cavani after the veteran striker inspired Manchester United's 3-2 comeback win away at Southampton.
The hosts led through a Jan Bednarek header and James Ward-Prowse's sublime free kick before Cavani was summoned from the bench at the start of the second half in place of Mason Greenwood.
Cavani's impact was almost immediate as he picked out Bruno Fernandes in space to score on the hour.
Cavani then put a header narrowly wide but as Southampton fell back deeper and deeper, the Uruguayan showed great reflexes to divert a Fernandes shot home for the equaliser.
United dominated the latter stages, and the 33-year-old Cavani struck again in stoppage time, stooping to head past Saints keeper Alex McCarthy.
Solskjaer praised Cavani's two-goal contribution - taking his tally to three since joining United as a free agent in October - which secured an eighth successive road win in the Premier League for United to move them up to seventh in the table with 16 points.
"It was top movement and his timing is fantastic," Solskjaer told Match of the Day. "His hunger to get on the end of things is the key for a centre-forward."
It was exactly the kind of influential display Solskjaer was hoping for from Cavani when he moved for him after United's failed pursuit of Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho.
Written off as a panic buy in some quarters, Cavani proved his age should be no barrier to making an impact in the Premier League.
He is only the second player to be directly involved in three goals in a Premier League game after coming on as a substitute for United since Solskjaer scored four against Nottingham Forest in 1999.
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Player ratings
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SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy - 7: Charged off his line after five minutes and rounded by Greenwood but relieved to see United attacker put ball in side netting. Brilliant double save to deny Greenwood and Fernandes. Important stop from Rashford early in second half. Might be disappointed with positioning for United winner. Getty -
Kyle Walker-Peters - 7: An important cog in the Southampton machine, the former Spurs right-back did well but looked shattered by end. PA -
Jannik Vestergaard - 6: Seemed to completely lose his bearings while awaiting a call from McCarthy after five minutes and allowed Greenwood in on goal. Recovered and looked solid but was only defender sitting deep to play Cavani onside for his opening goal. PA -
Jan Bednarek - 6: Glancing header from Ward-Prowse corner in crowded penalty area to put Saints in front with their first real attempt on goal after 24 minutes. Like fellow centre-back Vestergaard, found Cavani a handful when the Uruguayan came on in second half. Reuters -
Ryan Bertrand - 7: Dangerous partnership with Djenepo down left but was caught in possession at start of move for United’s first goal. Vital sliding challenge prevented United counter-attacking with a numerical advantage near the end. AP -
Stuart Armstrong - 6: First touch let him down with goal at his mercy after De Gea saved from Djenepo as he fluffed opportunity to make it 3-0 in first half. Never gave United players chance to relax in possession but, like rest of his teammates, looked shattered in last 10 minutes. Getty -
Oriol Romeu – 7: Lucky to escape booking for first-half challenge on Fernandes but was relentless in his pressuring of United players. Tired pass intercepted by United in the last 10 minutes gifted chance to United. EPA -
James Ward-Prowse - 8: Now officially crowned as new king of the dead ball – appropriate against David Beckham’s old club. It was his whipped in corner that set up Bednarek goal, then hit trademark free-kick past despairing dive of De Gea to make it 2-0. Fabulous technique. AP -
Theo Walcott - 6: Quieter game than his recent efforts. Found a bit of space in box just after break but shot comfortably saved by Henderson. Another effort straight at keeper minutes later. AFP -
Moussa Djenepo – 8: A constant danger to United producing some lovely stepovers and change of pace. Brought down on edge of box on one of his runs to hand free-kick chance to Ward-Prowse for second goal. Had low drive from edge of box well saved by De Gea. Ran out of steam in second half. AFP -
Che Adams - 7: Beautiful crossfield ball to set Djenepo off on attack just after half hour, left limping before break after being caught on follow through by Fred challenge. Brought high ball down brilliantly after 78 minutes but pulled shot just wide. Good performance up front. AFP -
SUBS: Shane Long (No live image) - (On for Djenepo 72') 5: Came on with United in the ascendency and no chance to make impact. Getty -
Ibrahima Diallo – (On for Armstrong 89’) N/A. Reuters -
Daniel N'Lundulu – (On for Walker-Peters 90+4) N/A. Reuters -
David de Gea - 5: Neither goal reflected well on him, though he wasn’t totally responsible for either. Got his hand to Ward Prowse’s free-kick. Off injured at half-time. -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6: Tough time against Djenepo in first half, better in second and floated a ball in for Cavani who nearly equalised in a taste of what was coming. Reuters -
Victor Lindelof - 6: Didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half time. Five in the first half, seven in the second, but passed accurately in both. Reuters -
Harry Maguire - 6: Said United had given away two soft goals and wasn’t wrong. Side he captained lost shape in first half but showed immense character against a team who’d drawn four of their last five games against United.. Reuters -
Alex Telles - 7: First Premier League away game. Good going forward and, unlike his teammates, with corners. Most involved and best defender for second successive game. Getty -
Fred - 7: Gave away free-kick in dangerous position which led to second. Teed-up Fernandes to shoot which led to goal and, like his team, improved in the second and got right forward. More touches than any other player. AP -
Nemanja Matic - 7: Started well, faded as Southampton struck twice, then solid in second half. Getty -
Donny van de Beek - 7: Not quite as bright in the diamond as he had been versus Istanbul, but impressive combining with Fernandes in his first away league start against a very decent opponent. PA -
Bruno Fernandes - 8: Clattered by Romeu, then shot wide as United started well. Beaten by Djenepo after United fell behind. Rightly disappointed after 30th minute effort when should’ve scored. Struck a dreadful corner but scored a minute later. Set up Cavani for 2-2. A goal and assist machine and at the heart of United’s creativity. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford - 6: Switched with Greenwood in a front two. Unable to stop Bednarek for first goal. Still far from his best but superb cross for Cavani’s winner on a day when he was more effective in build-ups. Reuters -
Mason Greenwood - 5: Sharp start and shot wide from tight angle when should have scored. Played more on right and struggled into a two up front as barely touch ball. Hooked at half-time. AFP -
SUBS: Edinson Cavani - (On for Greenwood 46') 9: Took time to lace his boots, started brightly, shot over and then smartly picked out Fernandes for United’s first before heading the equaliser and he wasn’t finished. Full of energy, movement, anticipation and presence. PA -
Dean Henderson - (On for De Gea 46') 7: Did well, though he wasn’t required as much as De Gea. reuters -
Brandon Williams - (On for Telles 84') N/A. Getty
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Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted the former Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain striker was the difference between victory and defeat for his side.
"He [Cavani] made the difference in the second half. He is good in the box and we know this. For 2-2, that is OK for us, but then we conceded a third goal. We played as good as we can today. We put everything in that is possible against such teams but we saw a fantastic side."
Southampton had looked in control after Bednarek headed in Ward-Prowse's corner in the 23rd minute before Ward-Prowse beat David de Gea 10 minutes later with a curling free kick.
De Gea clattered into the post trying to keep out Ward-Prowse's lethal effort and was replaced by Dean Henderson at half time.
"Hopefully it's not too bad," Solskjaer said of De Gea. "It's a knock on his knee - just above his knee - so we will see how it is."
