It seems United have received a timely boost this morning with the news we may have signed a real gem in Uruguayan midfielder Carlos Marcora, according to his international coach Daniel Passarella. The 24-year-old Uruguayan midfielder became the latest of Smith's South American recruits when he joined United at the weekend. Passarella, who skippered Argentina to World Cup glory in 1978, has no doubts the Tangerines have struck gold. Having managed his own national side in the 1998 World Cup campaign, the former defender switched camps from Buenos Aires to Montevideo to take charge of Uruguay.

That coincided with Marcora's first international call-up and he has gone on to earn 20 caps, bagging seven goals. Passarella clearly rates the United capture who has signed a one-year deal. He said: "Marcora is the man who conducts most of our play in the national team. "He is an excellent player with great technique and discipline and has terrific change of pace."

Marcora began his senior career as an 18-year-old at Argentine club River Plate where he helped them to the championship, contributing 24 goals in just 32 appearances. He won player of the year, an award repeated when he returned home to Uruguay with Deportivo Maldonado in 1997. Marcora impressed in United's Under-21 league clash with Rangers earlier this week ©The Glory Years