Manchester United are heading in the right direction but a title challenge might have to wait for a couple of seasons

They are top of the Project Restart table and the talk was whether Manchester United can challenge for the Premier League title.

It is a proposition Matt Le Tissier put forward working as a Sky pundit before his old club, Southampton, snatched a last-gasp equaliser and prevented United going into the Champions League places for the first time since September.

"It looks a serious front four that could threaten to challenge next season,” said the ex-Southampton midfielder.  “They are top quality and have Pogba and Matic sat behind them. That is really good balance."

Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood will frighten defences next season with Bruno Fernandes just behind them, yet there is still a significant gap to Liverpool and Manchester City that needs closing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team to fight for the title.

That was shown with the errors that led to Stuart Armstrong's opener, which came before Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford scored. At the death came Michael Obafemi's leveller as United could not hold onto their lead like title-challengers would.

Sir Alex Ferguson, in the directors’ box and wearing his protective mask, will love watching this attacking line-up put swagger back into United but he will know this is just a promising start. They are heading in the right direction but it may be two seasons before a first proper challenge since 2013 arrives.

United still seem raw in comparison to the top two. Paul Pogba can dictate play from his deep-lying midfield position but he showed carelessness in possession for Southampton’s opener.

He turned into trouble and was read by Danny Ings, the type of move forwards are prepared for with Pogba. His game will never be risk-free but United need the security of a Fabinho or Fernandinho in his role. Nathan Redmond took advantage of Ings' work and crossed for Armstrong.

United still showed mettle that has been missing in previous seasons as they fought back through Rashford and Martial.

Rashford is still not going at full tilt though since the restart. He showed his timing has been just off when he strayed offside when he got onto the end of Luke Shaw’s cross and had a goal chalked off.

It was not the worst mistake a striker will make and his very best will surely return. And when that happens consistently, like Mo Salah or Raheem Sterling in recent seasons, it will be another building block for United to mount a challenge.

Martial’s 50th Premier League goal got United ahead. United felt Oriol Romeu could have been given a red card for his challenge on Mason Greenwood, who has been United’s diamond of the restart but at 18 should be used sparingly. Solskjaer is looking for a right-winger and Greenwood will thrive off the competition, raising standards through the United attack.

At the moment it is the Fantastic Four and the positive signs are that all them show different qualities. Fernandes pulls the strings, Rashford is direct, while Greenwood is getting shots away quickly like a goal-poacher. In Martial they have a No 9 full of confidence who is proving himself to be an all-round forward. But those lapses at the back and an alternative at the top of the pitch set them apart from the top two.

Solskjaer himself says this season is not a success as they are not fighting at the top. They are heading in the right direction but there are still improvements to get to where they were seven years ago.