Beckham pushes his case as middle man

Now it is time for a rethink. Talk to coaches and players across Europe and they will tell you that Beckham is dangerous in two situations, when crossing and taking free-kicks. As such, some scoff at suggestions that he is a player of genuine world class.

Had they been at Old Trafford on Saturday, they would have been nudged into a reappraisal.

Beckham's performance on a boggy surface was something of a masterclass - and it all sprang from his work in the centre of the field.

Strictly speaking, Beckham was playing in his familiar position. But such was his eagerness to influence the game, such were his energy levels after his personal winter break, that he allowed himself to follow the ball.

Had this match been a tighter contest - or indeed a contest at all - such liberty of expression may have cost United.

As it was, it illuminated the champions.

His role in the first goal - scored by Phil Neville after six minutes - gave the first hint that this was to be Beckham's day, while his pass to Ruud van Nistelrooy which elicited such a spanking finish after 28 minutes also came from deep in centre field.

Beckham's wizardry with a dead ball remained evident, as his goal from a 25th- minute free- kick showed, but he has so much more to offer than that.

His dexterity in possession in the thick of what was effectively a sixman Sunderland midfield was remarkable and his passing over short distances was as crisp and astute as his longer-range efforts were spectacularly aesthetic.

How Sir Alex Ferguson and Eriksson manage to reshape their teams to accommodate such change is open to question. Neither coach, after all, has a ready-made replacement on the right side. As such, nothing is likely to change before the start of next season.

But, in many ways, United and England owe it to the nation's hero to give him the chance to develop his maturing attributes further. Ferguson, for the moment, will merely smile and reflect on the wisdom of resting Beckham for a six-match spell in December.

While some errantly spoke of a cold rift between coach and player, Ferguson merely continued with the business of preparing for the warmth of spring.

With the Champions League approaching fast, it would appear his timing has been perfect. As for Eriksson, he cannot have been more pleased as he gazed down from his seat in the Old Trafford directors' box on Saturday.

Sunderland's Claudio Reyna said: 'Beckham had a great game. The way the midfield played, it was obvious how much they have benefited from playing with each other.

'But Beckham was the star. He scored one goal and set one up. His workrate was also impressive.'

Such generous praise was admirable from a member of a team so outclassed and slipping dangerously close to an unseemly relegation fight. Sunderland have too much quality to get involved in that, while manager Peter Reid is still one of the country's brightest.

But fading confidence can do dreadful things to a team and Sunderland are in freefall.

There was hope for Reid's team once Kevin Phillips equalised from distance after 12 minutes but that disappeared when Beckham released his free-kick and Van Nistelrooy added two more goals, the second a penalty just before half-time.

But it was fitting that Beckham's goal should prove the turning point. This was his afternoon.