A look that boasts wild hair, teeth broken in a street fight over money, and facial scars suffered when a 10-month-old baby pulled a kettle of boiling water over himself.

A look that describes Carlos Tevez, who scored the 88th-minute equaliser that made sure that United take a precious three-point lead to the clash at rivals Chelsea on Saturday.

'He's fantastic, the lad,' Ferguson said. 'It's five crucial goals this season, against Blackburn, against Chelsea, in the last minute against Tottenham, at Liverpool and at Lyons.'

Tevez's 18th goal of his first United season means that United will wrap up the title if they end Chelsea's 80-game unbeaten run at home, as they currently have a superior goal difference of 18.

'We played like champions,' Ferguson said. 'It's now down to one game - if we win that, we will win the league.'

But United will still have their destiny in their own hands even if they suffer a defeat by Chelsea, thanks to Tevez's goal, which cancelled out Roque Santa Cruz's first-half strike.

The Blackburn striker benefited from a mix-up between United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Argentinian Tevez is a product of Ferguson's practice of picking up players who perform memorably against United, reported The Times.

The most famous example was Cristiano Ronaldo, signed after a tour match against Sporting Lisbon in which the young Portuguese took United defender Gary Neville apart.

Tevez also made an impression the first time he faced Ferguson's side. It was at Old Trafford in August 2002, in a charity match.

Paul Scholes was putting in his share of bad tackles on Boca Junior players, until an 18-year-old Tevez used his elbow to discipline the United midfielder and was promptly sent off.

Until his dismissal though, he had been easily the game's eye-catching player, and Ferguson began monitoring the Argentinian as he went on to be a three-time South American footballer of the year.

Last season, Tevez completed his rescue of West Ham from relegation with a winner at United, and Ferguson made sure he has played for the right team since then.

Despite having been dismissed by some as being too similar to Wayne Rooney, Tevez has shone.

He has made nearly as many starts (34) as Rooney (35). Saturday's goal took his tally to one more than the England striker.

In Europe, he has been especially productive, with four strikes in three starts.

Which makes it another reason to watch Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg at Barcelona, where Tevez will be pitted against his compatriot Lionel Messi.

Tevez was billed as the 'new Maradona' before Messi relieved him of the title.

And his inability to click with the Barcelona star on the pitch has been one reason why Tevez has lost his starting place in his country's colours.

But it will help United that that he is not going to the Beijing Olympics in August as one of Argentina's over-age players.

Next season will be the last in his complicated loan deal and Ferguson must make a decision about keeping him - which would involve paying about £20 million (S$54 million) to his third-party owners.

Said the manager: ' We're enjoying the fact he's with us, and I think he will be a United player properly eventually.'