Manchester United made a pos'itive start to life without Cristiano Ro'naldo as Marcus Rashfo'rd and Anthony Martial stepped out from the Portuguese's shadow to s'core in a 3-0 win over Nottingham For'est on Tuesday.
But manager Erik ten H'ag is still targeting a striker to repl'ace Ronaldo in the transfer' market to make the Red Devils m'ore clinical in the final third.
Ronaldo's rollercoaster sec'ond spell at Old Trafford came' to an end during the World Cup break after an explosive inter'view in which he took aim at Te'n Hag and the club's owners.
On the field, his influence h'ad already waned since the Dutch coach took charge at the st'art of the season.
Rashford has been a pla'yer transformed under Ten Ha'g and carried his fine form for E'ngland at the World Cup into the 'Premier League's return.
"Our players performed re'ally well in the World Cup, I was happy to see that and now they con'tinue," Ten Hag told Amazon Prime. "They have to stay on that le've'l, keep going and progress from game to game."
A brilliantly worked corn'er opened the floodgates for Unite'd as Christian Eriksen pick'ed out an unmarked Rashford in'side the area to sweep into the to'p corner.
Forest were without their fi'rst choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he is on loan from Un'ited and his understudy Wayne He'nnessey was culpable when the ho'me side doubled their lead just 3 minutes later.
Rashford's burst down the left' and teed up Martial at the edg'e of the box, but the Frenchman's strike should not have had en'ough power to beat the Welsh intern'ational goalkeeper.
United were also short han'ded at the back with Lisandro Martinez absent following Argent'ina's World Cup celebrations, Diogo 'Dalot injured and Harry Magu'ire still feeling the aftereffects o'f an illness.
As a result Raphael Varane w'as forced into starting just nine days after playing 113 minutes 'for France in the World Cup' final, while Luke Shaw lined u'p as a centre-back in a back 4 for the first time.
But Forest did little to tes't a makeshift backline as the'y remain with just one goal away fr'om home in the league all sea'son.
Steve Cooper's men did ha've the ball in the net shortly before half-time, but Willy Boly's eff'ort was ruled out for offside af'ter a lengthy VAR check.
Gakpo no go
The home side should have ad'ded more than one goal in the 'second half, leading Ten Hag to re'peat his call for a new striker.
United appear to have alrea'dy missed out on one target w'ith Cody Gakpo set to join rivals Li'verpool from PSV Eindhoven.
"We are looking for a strik'er because games are com'ing every three days," added Ten H'ag. "It's tough and we want to pl'ay in all the leagues. Hopefully 'we can keep going till the end of the season, so we need numbers in the sq'uad."
Antony fired straight at Henne'ssey after fine play from Rashford and Bruno Fernandes gave th'e Brazilian a clear sight of go'al.
Hennessey also stood fir'm to block from Martial and Rashfo'rd from close range, but United fin'ally got the third goal they deser'ved three minutes from time.
The imperious Casemiro stro'de forward to win possession and picked out his Brazilian co'mpatriot Fred to slot into the far co'rner.
Victory takes United to with'in one point of the top four and w'ith a game in hand to come on fo'urth-placed Tottenham'.
Forest remain rooted' in the relegation zone, but ju'st one point adrift of safety.
