Bruno Fernandes stepped out of his usual role as Manchester United's chief creator to become the star goalscorer as he netted a hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The win handed Michael Carrick's side their first Premier League victory of the season following a disappointing opening-day loss to newly promoted Hull City.
Fernandes, who is renowned for creating opportunities and delivering decisive passes, showed his goalscoring ability by taking control of the match when United needed him most.
Ipswich took the lead through Leif Davis, but Fernandes levelled the contest in the 40th minute to give United renewed momentum.
The 31-year-old Portugal international went on to score twice more, including a penalty, completing only the second Premier League hat-trick of his career.
His first hat-trick also came in United's opening home match of a Premier League season, against Leeds United five years ago.
Fernandes came close to adding a fourth when he attempted a long-range effort from near the halfway line, which narrowly cleared the crossbar. He later turned provider, producing an excellent through ball for Bryan Mbeumo, who finished with a lob to complete United's fifth goal.
The performance continues Fernandes' impressive form since Carrick took charge.
The midfielder flourished under Carrick last season after Ruben Amorim's departure, benefiting from greater freedom to move between the lines and influence matches.
Fernandes played a major role in United's eventual third-place finish, earning several individual awards, including the Premier League Player of the Season accolade, while also setting a league record for assists in a single campaign.
His influence, however, goes beyond goals and assists. The United captain is known for his work rate, pressing, dropping deeper to collect possession and pushing his teammates to maintain high standards.
Carrick praised Fernandes for his leadership and experience following Sunday's emphatic victory.
“He means a lot,” Carrick said.
He added that Fernandes has experienced a wide range of challenges during his time at the club and now has the experience to guide younger players and lead by example.
“He offers us a lot. What else can I say?” Carrick said. “Said quite a lot about him already, and I’ve only been here six or seven months. Hopefully, there’s a lot to come.”
There were also encouraging signs for Marcus Rashford, who made his first start in more than 600 days.
The forward had fallen out of favour under Amorim before spending time on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona.
Rashford came close to scoring on several occasions, receiving some of the loudest cheers from the United supporters despite failing to find the net.
Carrick welcomed his return to the starting XI, saying the focus should remain on what the player does next.
“He’s been fantastic since he came back; it was great to see him on the pitch today for us,” Carrick said.
Ultimately, however, the afternoon belonged to Fernandes.
The midfielder who is usually responsible for creating goals switched roles against Ipswich, producing a match-winning goalscoring performance that once again highlighted his importance to Manchester United.