WHILE Wayne Rooney's hat-trick justifiably hogged the headlines in the wake of Manchester United's 4-0 win at Bolton, proof of the striker's renaissance overshadowed a result that has equally significant repercussions for the English game.

Ten games into the current Premiership campaign and Sir Alex Ferguson's side are still matching champions Chelsea blow for blow.

Whisper it, but this season, we might actually have a title race worthy of the name.

By this stage of the last campaign, United had already lost to Blackburn and Middlesbrough and trailed Jose Mourinho's men by a whopping ten points.

This time round, and the two sides are still neck and neck as we enter November, with Manchester United's only defeat having come at the hands of Arsenal, a team who also retain at least a semblance of interest in the title race.

Just as significantly, United, the team that everyone historically has loved to hate, have become the side that enjoys the support of the neutral.

The sight of the likes of Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes tearing Bolton apart on Saturday underlined just how difficult it has become to derive pleasure from Chelsea's relentless pursuit of their third successive Premiership crown.

Despite the acquisition of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack this summer, the Stamford Bridge side remains functional rather than flamboyant.

Yes, it is possible to admire Didier Drogba's emergence as a striker of world-class talent. Yes, you can applaud Frank Lampard's prodigious workrate and clap John Terry's unyielding determination at the back.

But no, you cannot swoon at the artistry of Chelsea's attacking. For that, you must turn your attention to Old Trafford and hail a side that has rediscovered the verve and fluidity that was once their hallmark.

With Giggs and Scholes rolling back the years in midfield, to say nothing of Cristiano Ronaldo's impish dribbling skills on the flank, Manchester United have become the antidote to Chelsea's unaesthetic athleticism.

The opening 20 minutes of Saturday's Reebok Stadium romp underlined as much, with Ronaldo's direct running and Michael Carrick's astute passing carving out at least four clear-cut openings before Rooney weighed in with a quickfire double.

Just as talk of the England international's demise has proved premature, so the idea that Manchester United have slipped into terminal decline has been rendered redundant.

Instead, Ferguson's patient rebuilding programme appears to be bearing fruit. It will face the most serious of examinations when Chelsea visit Old Trafford on November 26 but, whatever the outcome of that game, United's wily old manager can be satisfied with the way his side is shaping up.

The previously maligned Nemanja Vidic has emerged as a commanding centre-half, Patrice Evra has become a genuine rival to Gabriel Heinze at left-back, while Carrick's increasing maturity has finally provided the midfield solidity that disappeared when Roy Keane left for Celtic.

Of course Ferguson's rebuild remains something of a work in progress.

A failure to sign Owen Hargreaves in the summer means Manchester United are still short of cover in midfield, while Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure means the Red Devils would be lightweight in attack if either Rooney or Luis Saha was to face a long-term lay-off.

Provided that doesn't happen, though, this is a United side that appears strong enough to stay the course.

Chelsea remain favourites for the title, as much because of their incredible strength in depth as the quality of the football that is currently being played by Mourinho's first team.

But Manchester United are ready to push them all the way, a fact that can only be good for the long-term health of the Premiership.

In the past, the sight of Ferguson's side closing in on another title would have caused most neutrals' hearts to sink. This time around, though, United could well end up being the nation's choice for champions come the first two weeks of May.