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By Pete Oliver
MANCHESTER, England, March 3 (Reuters) - Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is the present day equivalent of Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona, according to United manager Alex Ferguson.
Cantona took on iconic status at United during a five-year spell in which he helped the club to four league titles and two FA Cups before retiring in 1997.
Tevez has shown some of the goal-scoring characteristics of former France international Cantona with his latest goal giving United the edge as they prepare to meet Olympique Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday night.
"Carlos reminds me of Eric Cantona in the way that he has a knack of rising to the occasion with a goal just when it's needed," writes Ferguson in the match programme.
"He often comes up with the goods away from home when you are up against it. I don't think anything fazes him and he keeps his cool in the box."
Argentina international Tevez has scored 15 times for United this season, including the late equaliser at Lyon which produced a 1-1 draw in the last-16 tie.
Ferguson added: "Tevez is proving a master at scoring the really important goals - the ones that give you a win or a draw, especially away from home.
"He did it at Tottenham (Hotspur) to salvage a point as he made the result 1-1. He scored for a 1-0 win at Liverpool and now he has rescued us again by finding the net late and nullifying Lyon's lead."
Ferguson believes Tevez's goal against the French champions and league leaders has put United in a "a good position, not a decisive one," as they seek to reach the quarter-finals.
He told a news conference on Monday: "Lyon will come knowing they have to get a goal, which they are capable of.
"Our intention is to score. We will certainly be playing attacking football and hopefully that's enough for us to go through."
A United victory at Old Trafford would be their 10th successive home win in the Champions League, equalling a competition record set by Juventus in 1997.
It would take United a step closer to the opportunity to make up for last season's semi-final exit and keep alive their hopes of winning the competition for a third time.
Ryan Giggs, who made his 100th European appearance in the first leg, is an injury doubt but Ferdinand's centre-back partner Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are all expected to return to the starting line-up following Saturday's 3-0 win at Fulham.
