Eyebrows were raised when David James's name appeared on the six-man shortlist for PFA player of the year.

However, nobody works harder at their game than James, who has spent his career test driving different hairstyles and has now, at the age of 37, found the perfect model to keep strikers at bay.

Having survived his obligatory moment of madness - racing out to intercept a through ball and taking an air-shot - he pulled off a string of superb saves, most notably repelling a Michael Owen shot that glanced off the keeper's bushy afro and over the bar.

Infamous blue rinse? Goal. Snoop Dogg/Rio Ferdinand-style braids? Goal. Bonkers, possibly Hitler-inspired side parting? Goal. Sturdy afro? No goal.

And that is why he is in contention for awards and the hairless likes of Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann are not.

It looked like Jens Lehmann was trying a similar tactic at Old Trafford yesterday, but alas the German's hair lacks the natural thickness and vitality of James's, and he was unable to get his straggly mop of curls anywhere near either United goal.

Lehmann made a surprise, but welcome, appearance after Manuel Almunia was struck down by a mysterious injury a day after publicly giving the German the Godfather "You're dead to me" treatment.

The Spaniard may reflect that karma is a fickle beast. Lehmann has spent the season slagging him off without reprisal. The first hint of retaliation from Almunia and he ends up sidelined.