Ronaldo transfer saga is allowing new Manchester United signing to flourish

It's easy to forget the importance of a player when there is so much attention and focus placed on other individuals - even when they want to leave the club, or haven't even joined yet.

After four Premier League matches, Manchester United have won two and lost two. While it is certainly not the start to the season that Erik ten Hag will have envisaged, it's probably about right for where United are right now.

The defeats against Brighton and Brentford were damming, but the players stood up and responded against Liverpool and Southampton. Ten Hag's men delivered a spectacular battling performance to beat Jurgen Klopp's side earlier in the week, and showed a completely different side to themselves in the win over Saints on Saturday.

A visit to St Mary's is never easy, never mind after a shaky start to the campaign. Yet, when Bruno Fernandes' stunning strike just ten minutes from time hit the back of the net, it was hard to argue against United deserving their lead. While the home side will feel unfortunate not to have taken anything from the game, Ten Hag's men did what they needed to, and did it well.

Fernandes combined with countryman Diogo Dalot for the goal - giving Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu absolutely no chance. In a game of little quality, it was a moment of class.

Much of the focus before the game, unsurprisingly, was on Cristiano Ronaldo. With the Portuguese once again on the bench, speculation around his future intensified. While everyone involved with United is desperate for the situation to be resolved, however that may be, there are positives in the fact that the veteran striker dominates the headlines.

United have been relatively busy in the transfer window, adding Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and most recently Casemiro to their ranks. Both Martinez and Malacia have received widespread praise for their performances in recent weeks, while Casemiro's move to Old Trafford has all the makings of a superb piece of business - regardless of the cost.

And yet, the club's other summer signing - Christian Eriksen - has come in and done everything that United needed him to, with the Denmark international able to go about his business quietly.

Having signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old committed his future to United. Having returned to football with Brentford after having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator fitted following his cardiac arrest at last summer's Euro, his next move was key.

He scored 52 goals and provided 66 assists in 237 Premier League appearances for Tottenham and Brentford, but it was his ability to dictate games that excited United fans.

This season, having started in all of the club's opening four matches, Eriksen - while not registering any goal involvements - is helping United to move up the pitch much quicker than they were able to before his arrival. His passing ability alone, and capability to switch the play quickly, is vital for how Ten Hag wants to play.

Given that he hasn't scored or assisted, Eriksen has often found himself out of the headlines. This, though, can be viewed as a positive. Although his goal record in the Premier League is very respectable, he isn't - or doesn't have to be - that player for United.

As well as Ronaldo dominating conversations, the club's pursuit of Ajax's attacking star Antony is also allowing Eriksen to go under the radar. The pressure of playing for United is obvious, but when everyone else is focused on a player who is yet to even sign for the club, it allows new additions to get their feet under the table without, to some extent, the same level of scrutiny.

With the addition of Casemiro, it feels inevitable that United will at some point find themselves lining up with a midfield trio of the Brazilian, Eriksen and Fernandes. That, for the club's supporters, is an exciting prospect.

Should United finally secure a deal to sign 22-year-old Antony, the focus - given the price tag it will take to bring him to Old Trafford, will be on the attacker. Whether or not Ronaldo stays at the club will also continue to rumble on until the transfer window does close.

Since their respective arrivals at Old Trafford, Martinez's height and aerial ability has been questioned, Malacia has received praise from club legends and Casemiro is immediately under pressure to show his class. While it would be incorrect to say that Eriksen hasn't been mentioned, it definitely feels like he is not being talked about as much.

If United are to continue to improve this season, the former Spurs man is going to be crucial to the club's success. While the Ronaldo transfer saga is certainly becoming tiresome, and speculation around Antony's future continues to rumble on, it is, if nothing else, allowing United's creative spark to flourish without the same level of scrutiny.