When Dion Dublin completed his £1m move from Cambridge United to Manchester United in August 1992, rumour had it that the striker had been identified by Sir Alex Ferguson as an alternative to Alan Shearer, who had opted to join Blackburn Rovers instead.
Even so, despite reportedly being second choice, Dublin got off to a positive start, scoring the only goal of the game away at Southampton as United secured their first victory of the season at The Dell.
However, next time out against Crystal Palace, disaster struck. The forward suffered a broken leg in a challenge with Eric Young and by the time that he had recovered six months later, Eric Cantona - the man signed to replace him - was spearheading the Red Devils to a first league title since 1967.
It meant that Dublin's starting opportunities were limited throughout the following campaign, with the frontman having to settle for rare appearances off the bench.
One of those opportunities came against Oldham Athletic 21 years ago today when with the scoreline locked at one goal apiece, Ferguson turned to Dublin to replace Brian McClair in the 63rd minute.
Within three minutes of his introduction, the number 20 had fired the home side in front. Andrei Kanchelskis failed to control Ryan Giggs's cross inside the penalty area, but Dublin was on hand to power a low shot beyond the reach of Oldham goalkeeper Jon Hallworth.
When Dublin departed for Coventry City at the end of the season, that would be the only goal that he scored at Old Trafford as a United player, finding the net three times in total.
Just a matter of seconds after he had put the champions 2-1 in front, Dublin started the move that made it 3-1 as his brave header found Mark Hughes, who in turn released Giggs. Rather than shooting himself, the Welsh winger squared a pass for Paul Ince to roll the ball into an unguarded net.
Graeme Sharp pulled a goal back for the relegation-threatened visitors with 20 minutes remaining, but an equalising goal wasn't forthcoming on an afternoon that belonged largely to Dublin.
"I didn't realise I was going to be in the 13 to be honest. But, to be on the bench and then get on and score a very important goal was great. It was a brilliant feeling," he said during an interview after the match.
"Fortunately for me [the ball] happened to bounce in between their two defenders and I got there first."
MAN UNITED: Schmeichel; Irwin, Bruce, Pallister, Sharpe; Giggs, Keane, Ince, Kanchelskis; McClair (Dublin), Hughes
OLDHAM: Hallworth; Makin (Palmer), Jobson, Redmond, Fleming, Pointon; Holden, Milligan, Brennan (Beckford); Sharp, McCarthy
Liam Apicella
