Man Utd vs Middlesbrough Highlights

Man Utd 3 - 1 Middlesbrough
25' Cristiano Ronaldo Goal 1 - 0
56' 1 - 1 Goal Adam Johnson
66' Red Card Emanuel Pogatetz
79' Ryan Giggs Goal 2 - 1
90' Nani Goal 3 - 1
It was almost as if Cristiano Ronaldo had never been away as he marked his return to Manchester United's starting line-up with a goal as they beat Middlesbrough 3-1 in the Carling Cup third round.

Exactly 125 days after the final one of his 42 last season, Ronaldo converted his first of this one.

A Carling Cup tie with Middlesbrough may be somewhat less enthralling than a Champions League final at the Luzhniki Stadium but the headers were eerily similar, marking the end of a turbulent summer for Ronaldo and providing confirmation he intends to be a major player for United again this season - despite his stated desire to join Real Madrid.