The Ivory Coast international took his goalscoring tally for the season to nine with an incredible contribution late on against the Saints - scoring a treble in the space of 12 minutes.

After equalising with eight minutes remaining, Amad then put us ahead in the final seconds of normal time with a sumptuous volley, before making sure of the win - and the match ball - with a third, four minutes into stoppage time.

The unsurprising winner of the Man of the Match poll on ManUtd.com, and recipient of the equivalent prize from UK broadcaster TNT Sports, our no.16 was the subject of much acclaim as we sealed three points in our first home game this calendar year - and he shared his thoughts in an interview with MUTV after the game.

"Yeah, it’s important to score," said our exuberant no.16. "But, for me, the most important thing right now is the win, together.

"I'm so happy to score my first hat-trick, especially at Old Trafford. I’m so happy, especially for the win, because I think this team deserve it, and we have to keep going like this."

United had trailed at the break, following a disappointing first half, and while our intensity grew in the second half, we were frustrated by Southampton for long periods.

It made the contribution of Amad all the more important, with a fourth consecutive home defeat looming until we fought our way back, thanks to his goals, from the 82nd minute onwards.

"I think, especially in the first half, we were not good enough," confessed the 22-year-old. "But I think we believed until the end, we push and push and the fans were already there to push us.

"We won the match but we have to keep going like this because the next match is against Brighton, it’s a tough match and we have to be more focused."

While Amad's initial equaliser was crucial, and the final one special to ensure he got his hat-trick, there was no doubt from the Ivorian that his second goal was the pick of the three.

Indeed, it's difficult to argue with that assessment - Amad dispatched a superb volley from a brilliant Christian Eriksen assist for the second, giving us the lead in the final minute.

"The second one is my best goal!" he said. "A player like Christian Eriksen or Bruno [Fernandes], they have the quality to put a ball [in] like this.

"You have to believe it, you have to go, then you give them [the ball] and you go and then you have the ball there, and then score the second goal. I was so happy. I feel proud. I was so happy to score the second goal.

"I was happy for myself, but I was so happy for the team because we deserved this win. We need this confidence to keep going and we have to continue like this."