MARTIN Caceres’ remarkable run ended tonight.

The Uruguayan played his second successive game for Saints under-23s as he continues to recover match fitness.

The 29-year-old has not played a competitive match since he appeared for Juventus in a Serie A contest against Genoa on February 2, 2016.

After making his Saints debut against Chelsea U23s at St Mary’s a week earlier, Caceres was again included in the starting line-up against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Caceres entered the game having helped his teams record eight consecutive clean sheets.

Last season Juventus didn’t concede a goal in his last six games for the club, and prior to that he had played for Uruguay in a 3-0 win against Chile.

After helping Saints to a clean sheet against Chelsea, it looked as if he would extend his great run as Saints opened up a 2-0 lead tonight.

But United hit back to lead 3-2 before Saints grabbed an 87th minute spot-kick leveller.

Boss Claude Puel must now be weighing up whether to start Caceres at White Hart Lane this coming Sunday.

Though Saints have been in impressive form going forward recently following Manolo Gabbiadini’s arrival, they have still conceded six goals in their last two matches.

Josh Sims put Saints ahead at Old Trafford after 16 minutes, collecting a stray pass from a home defender to claim possession just inside the penalty area before finishing past Kieran O’Hara at the Stretford End.

Alfie Jones doubled the lead shortly into the second half when he headed in from a corner.

But United hit back through Devonte Redmond (62 mins) before Demetri Mitchell (70 and 75) converted two penalties in the space of five minutes.

That wasn't the end of the spot-kicks, though, with Ryan Seager levelling from 12 yards three minutes from time.

Bosses Martin Hunter and Raidi Jahdi fielded a side containing five players with first team experience this season.

They were Sims, Sam McQueen, Harrison Reed, Pierre Hojbjerg and Jake Hesketh.

An even stronger side had been fielded against Chelsea a week earlier, with Soufiane Boufal and Jay Rodriguez also getting run-outs. But those two were absent last night - almost certainly being required for the Tottenham trip.

There was also another start last night for striker Ryan Seager, who made two brief first team sub appearances under Ronald Koeman in 2014/15.

He has not played for Saints’ first team since, and last February suffered a serious knee injury while on loan to Crewe.

Saints: Hassen, Jones, McQueen, Reed, Cook, Caceres, Sims, Hojbjerg, Seager, Hesketh, Johnson.