The success or otherwise of Manchester United’s vibrant season may yet be defined by fixture congestion, a prospect that should bring a wry smile to Alan Smith’s face. Too much football is scarcely a pressing concern for a player whose most recent league appearance was 13 months ago and whose career at Old Trafford has been idling at a crossroads for longer than he would care to admit.

The raucous sound of United supporters commemorating the conclusion of Henrik Larsson’s fleeting spell at Old Trafford was also, in effect, a clarion call for Smith. With Larsson returning to Sweden and with Paul Scholes, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer unavailable for at least a further two matches, the 26-year-old appears to be a pivotal figure.

An exuberant 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough — whose quest to restore romance to the FA Cup has brought four replays, two of which have been decided by penalties — ensures that both clubs must play twice in three days this weekend. Aside from their home match against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, United must also contend with a charity match against a Europe XI tomorrow evening.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who suffered minor injuries, will be rested, while Edwin van der Sar strained a calf during the warm-up at the Riverside Stadium and had a scan yesterday. Darren Fletcher and Mikaël Silvestre are long-term absentees and although Saha (hamstring), Solskjaer (knee) and Scholes (suspended), should return to face Blackburn Rovers on March 31, the concerns are obvious.

The treble remains alive, but the depth of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad will be tested. “We could do without the added game and things are a bit choked,” Michael Carrick, the midfield player, said. “But you have to deal with it if you’re going to win things. Other lads can come in now and show how good they are.”

With forwards at a premium, the timing of Larsson’s exit is unhelpful. “It might be a bad time to go, but they have enough to cope and I knew when I signed the contract that this would be my last game,” he said. “Sir Alex asked me [to stay], we had a chat, but no. This is farewell to the Premiership. I’m not coming back. I’m not 25, I’m 36. I don’t mind not getting a medal.”

For Smith, regular football would feel as rewarding as any silverware. Bought from Leeds United for £7 million in 2004, he has been recast as a midfield player, retrained as a striker and broke a leg and dislocated an ankle in a Cup match against Liverpool in February 2006. He started Carling Cup ties against Crewe Alexandra and Southend United late last year and was subsequently linked with loan moves to Leeds and Cardiff City. He has scored only two goals in 27 months, but his mental fortitude has never been in question.

“Larsson has been brilliant throughout his career, but people shouldn’t forget about Alan,” Jonathan Woodgate, the Middlesbrough defender and a former teammate of Smith at Elland Road, said. “I’m sure United will bring him back into things and he’s a fantastic striker as well.

“He’s a mate of mine, so I know he’s had to wait very patiently for his chance after coming back from such a bad break, but hopefully he’ll play against us on Monday night [next week]. I’m sure the texts will be flying between us. People will say that United are weaker now that Larsson’s left, but Alan can fill that hole and become a big, big player for them again.”

Woodgate’s tribute was sincere, but the dead-pan delivery spoke of Middlesbrough’s dismay at not clinging on to the 2-1 advantage they had grasped after withstanding United’s first-half brilliance. Gareth Southgate’s team recovered admirably from Wayne Rooney’s first goal in eight matches, with Lee Cattermole restoring parity shortly before half-time and George Boateng’s header earning a 47th-minute lead.

Yet Boateng was allowed little opportunity to revel in a rare moment of glory, conceding a penalty when Rio Ferdinand flicked the ball on to his hands. Cristiano Ronaldo’s seventeenth goal of the season followed in typically imperious manner, but the Middlesbrough captain could not disguise his disgust at the most prominent of the contentious decisions that emanated from Rob Styles, the referee.

“That would not have been a penalty in a million years if it had been at Old Trafford [against United],” Boateng said. “You could put your house on that. It was ball-to-hand and there was no intent, but a huge club like Manchester United get decisions like this. One man took the dream away. As a captain, the last thing you want to do is go into the dressing-room and apologise for something, but I didn’t need to.”

Yet the experience was affirming for Middlesbrough. Their ground was crammed, the atmosphere crackled and, until the last, Southgate urged his players forward. “These lads have handled everything that’s been thrown at them and come back for more,” the manager said. “I’m proud of them.”

Southgate could also embrace a significant consolation for so many replays. “At least Wembley will be ready by the time we get there,” he said.

HOW THEY LINED UP

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): M Schwarzer — S Parnaby, J Woodgate, E Pogatetz, A Taylor — L Cattermole (sub: J Morrison, 80min), G Boateng (sub: J Euell, 89), J Arca, S Downing — Yakubu Ayegbeni, M Viduka (sub: Lee Dong Gook, 89). Substitutes not used: B Jones, A Xavier

Manchester United (4-4-2): T Kuszczak — G Neville, R Ferdinand, N Vidic, G Heinze — C Ronaldo, J O’Shea, M Carrick, R Giggs — W Rooney, H Larsson. Substitutes not used: W Brown, Park Ji Sung, A Smith, K Richardson, C Eagles. Booked: Larsson

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