Saha aims to prove he's fit for Fergie test

But as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson thanked his one true centre forward for dragging his team from another early season hole on Saturday, Saha could finally look ahead with just a hint of optimism.

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"I know what I can do for this team and it's just great to get an important goal again," said Saha, who had to look back as far as February for his previous scoring contribution.

"The reason I'm often injured is because I'm totally committed and give everything — the same as every other United player."

Ferguson may disagree on one crucial point with the striker for whom he paid Fulham £12million in January 2004.

While Saha believes his game leaves him open to injury, his manager privately feels the Frenchman sometimes lacks mental fortitude to cope with physical setbacks.

Just last season Ferguson was telling close allies his patience was running out. Indeed, had Saha not needed surgery in the summer the 29-year-old may well have been sold.

However, what is not in doubt is that Ferguson needs Saha now like he has never needed him before.

Without another traditional target man and with Wayne Rooney injured and Carlos Tevez taking time to settle, United look largely impotent at the moment.

While the return from suspension of Cristiano Ronaldo will certainly help, Saha clearly has a crucial role to play as the champions look to buck a trend that has seen them score just three times this season.

He was certainly the difference on Saturday against Roy Keane's obdurate team.

United had been lousy during a first half in which another full house enjoyed the return of Keane and an emotional and fitting farewell to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer far more than they did the football on offer.

But Saha brought a different shape to United after replacing the debutant Anderson at the interval.

For the remainder of the game they had a target to direct their football towards while Tevez was able to drop into spaces and conduct the work for which he was bought.

Saha's winner — with 18 minutes left — was ugly, bouncing from the back of his head while he had his eyes shut.

But the sumptuous turn and volley that brought a super low save from Craig Gordon and the intelligent lay-off that allowed Tevez to shoot served as more pertinent indications of his worth.

The key now for Saha is to stay fit.

It is that simple. If he does, he will add significantly to the 70 League appearances he has made for the club.

If he does not, he could be on his way in January.

Sunderland manager Keane said: "United carried more threat when Louis came on. He's a quality player. He gave a more physical edge and they were able to play balls over the top. Anyone who has seen Louis play knows the threat he carries."

For Keane it was a fruitless and ultimately disappointing afternoon on his return to the club where he had cast his remarkable influence for a decade.

Many of those who watched him play will never see his like again but here was an example of how his life has changed. A manager can, after all, only do so much.

Keane's well organised and disciplined team had restricted United to speculative efforts from Tevez and Chris Eagles in the first half and shots from Owen Hargreaves and Nemanja Vidic in the second, only for Saha to profit from poor defending at a corner to snatch a result.

As a player and a leader, Keane's eyeballs would have bulged and his veins throbbed at such slack defending.

As a manager he was a little more restrained.

"It's the easiest thing in the world to be a great player from the stands and I'm not going to blame people," he said.

"I've seen the goal again and it was a very good delivery. Things like that are hard to deal with.

"I think we did OK and we're still learning. But I'm still confident that at the end of the season we will be comfortable."

Given his contribution to United's glorious cause, it was inevitable that he would be asked for his opinion on his old club's prospects this season.

Nobody does deadpan quite like the Irishman and his eyes betrayed not a hint of mischief as he offered a reply.

"They will do fine," he said. "They will be safe."

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Van der Sar 6; Brown 6, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 6, Evra 6; Hargreaves 7, Scholes 7; Nani 6 (O'Shea 84min), Anderson 6 (Saha 45, 8), Eagles 6 (Fletcher 66, 6); Tevez 6. Booked: Vidic.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Gordon 8; Collins 7, Higginbotham 8, Nosworthy 8, McShane 7; Yorke 7; Chopra 7, Etuhu 8 (Stokes 83), Leadbitter 7, Wallace 7 (Miller 83); Jones 7 (Murphy 70, 7). Booked: Leadbitter, Chopra.

Man of the match: Craig Gordon.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.