In terms of status it seems a slightly embarrassing downgrade from a World Cup, European Championship and three-time Champions League winner to a player whose biggest triumph is an Austrian Bundesliga title. However, he has shown in his year at Southampton to be extremely capable at Premier League level and looks like he could be an astute acquisition at Old Trafford, where there has otherwise largely been a focus on adding Galacticos to a squad chasing a return to the peak of English football.