Man United 3-1 Tottenham: The Daily Mirror match report

Once derided as a poor man’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani has finally emerged from the shadow of his former team-mate to prove himself a Manchester United star in his own right.

If United to go on to claim a record 19th title this season, special praise must be reserved for Nani, the unpredictable winger who looked to be on his way out of Old Trafford five months ago.

The turnaround in Nani’s fortunes since then has been nothing short of remarkable, and he proved his worth with a match-winning display against Spurs to keep United in the title hunt.

At Stoke on September 26, Nani – who joined United in the summer of 2007 from Sporting Lisbon for £17million – was so poor he was replaced by Ryan Giggs just 11 minutes into the second half, the decision cheered by United fans who had grown tired of his wastefulness.

After that Nani became a peripheral figure, culminating in him publicly criticising Fergie in November, a rash act which, combined with a knee injury, served only to extend his exile from the first team.

But a frank heart-to-heart discussion with Fergie in January proved the turning point for Nani.

And when United needed inspiration to maintain their title push against Spurs, after Ledley King had equalised with 20 minutes to go, Nani was the player who stepped up to the plate.

Starting and finishing the move for United’s second, he fed Dimitar Berbatov before collecting a pass from substitute Federico Macheda and coolly chipping Heurelho Gomes to put United back in front.

And it was Nani who was barged over in the box by Wilson Palacios in the 86th minute to give Giggs the chance to put United 3-1 up with his second successful penaty of the day.

Giggs said of Nani: “He has a special talent and he has shown that this season. It was a great goal. To finish as coolly as he did shows how much quality and temperament he has got.”

Just as they did against Manchester City a week earlier, United hauled themselves to victory by sheer force of will as much as anything else.

They are not prepared to give up their title, and the chance to win it for an unprecedented fourth time in a row, without an epic fight to the finish, as Chelsea are finding.

After a moribund first half, United made the breakthrough in the 58th minute when Berbatov’s clever back-heel released Patrice Evra, who was felled by a clumsy challenge from Benoit Assou-Ekotto. A stonewall penalty.

With usual penalty-taker Wayne Rooney watching from the stands, hostage to a groin injury, if fell to Giggs to take the spot-kick, which he swept past Gomes with calm assurance and conviction.

Incredibly, it was the first penalty Giggs had scored in the Premier League.

And, like the proverbial two buses, another came along four minutes from time to steady Old Trafford nerves.

“We’ve always had good penalty-takers, like Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona, Ronaldo and Rooney, so I’ve never had a look-in before,” he said.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitted his side deservedly lost after two momentous wins over Arsenal and Chelsea inside a week.

“One or two of our lads were way off the pace,” said Redknapp. “With no Rooney and no Rio Ferdinand this was a real opportunity for us but we didn’t take it.”