Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Veron had already obliterated the memory of Yaniv Katan’s shock eighth minute opener for the visitors when Forlan was handed an extended chance to break his 26-game goal drought.

Given 35 minutes to make his mark, the £7million Uruguayan continued to toil. One shot flew over, another was slightly mis-controlled, the next was saved. The best one – from van Nistelrooy’s pass – was rushed and ballooned over the bar.

But in the final minute, the opportunity came. David Beckham was chopped down in the box and though both the captain and Solskjaer might have had a go themselves, none of them had the heart to deny Forlan, as Roy Keane had done in similar circumstances against Zalaegerszeg last month.

The whole stadium stood, willing him on. Forlan’s knees must have been knocking – but he did not disappoint to set the seal on a night when United proved that reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated – again.

With their captain embroiled in controversy, their team ravaged by injury, the results going wrong, the goalscorers not scoring and their manager apparently incapable of correctly identifying his opponents, the Old Trafford giants were reportedly on their knees begging to be put out of their misery.

And, when Katan stroked home his stunning opener from Michael Zandberg’s pass after just eight minutes, the executioner was sent out to collect his gun. He need not have bothered.

The eruption of green glee among the 6,000-strong visiting support had to be seen to be believed.

Katan certainly knew the consequence of becoming the first player to score for an Israeli team in the Champions League, whipping off his shirt before he was submerged by his ecstatic team-mates.

However, with the home supporters fearful of what was to follow, their team shrugged their shoulders and responded immediately.

The equaliser came from an unlikely source, Phil Neville drifting a cross into the area which Ryan Giggs rose to flick home, but once it had been achieved, Maccabi were submerged.

At times, visiting keeper Dudu Awate must have thought his defenders had given up altogether.

The Israel number one became a human barricade, saving one-handed from Veron and van Nistelrooy, tipping a Solskjaer effort over the bar, then blocking the Norwegian’s brilliant volley on the turn from Giggs’ cut back.

Quick-fire Beckham crosses picked out Solskjaer and Giggs, but the first header flashed wide, the second looped behind off Alon Harazi.

When Maccabi bravely started to venture forward again, it appeared as though the whirlwind of United attacks was going to bring no further reward.

Instead, their patience proved virtuous as it has done so many times in the past.

Giggs and Veron combined to open up the Maccabi defence for van Nistelrooy, whose threaded pass provided the kind of inviting opportunity Solskjaer has spent his United career lapping up.

Even before the interval there could have been more, Veron stinging Awate’s fingers from 25 yards before a curling Giggs free-kick was tipped over as it started to drop into the far corner.

However, having converted their domination into goals for a change, the Red Devils were in no mood to let their hapless opponents off the hook and, within 20 seconds of the restart, Veron was racing away in jubilation having thundered home the third when Beckham’s cross somehow found its way to the Argentinian at the far post.

Veron turned creator for United’s fourth, although his floated cross should have been cut out before van Nistelrooy nipped in to control and blast home with confidence his manager thought had been lacking.

Veron has attracted criticism almost since his £28.1million arrival from Lazio but, with so many familiar faces missing, it was time for him to deliver and, if more onerous tasks need to be overcome in the next few weeks, his productive involvement tonight will at least provide the impetus for him to assume the responsibility his vast fee demands.

The same could be said of Forlan of course. But maybe not tonight.