EPL:Pogba not miss by Man United Thanks to in-form Fellaini

The Belgian giant has found it difficult to win some fans of United, but there can be no doubt of its value to the side at the moment.

The vision of Paul Pogba limping from the return of Manchester United to the action of the Champions League against Basel in early September had many fans of the Reds concerned, particularly when Marouane Fellaini was called to take the place of the Frenchman.

Such is the reputation of the Belgian among some factions of United's fan base, it has become something of a fun figure during his time at Old Trafford. His sometimes clumsy style of play has been a slow burner with supporters of a club who have done their best to boast slick football over a period of many decades.

But since the absence of Pogba, Fellaini has become a streak of form that has had Jose Mourinho deliver innumerable superlatives, and Saturday was scored twice as United rejected the Premier League game Crystal Palace 4-0 at Old Trafford.

The value of Fellaini for United has been greatly underestimated since he was David Moyes' forecast for the summer of 2013, but there may be little doubt about his current form. While Mourinho confirmed on Friday that Pogba's injury is a long-term problem, his team have not lost their midfielder to £ 89.5 million thanks to Fellaini's impact on the team and the revelation that has been Nemanja Matic.

Fellaini played a key role in the 4-0 win against former club Everton who followed and was one of their most prominent players once again to see an energetic Southampton in the last St Mary match is over time.

"He is a very important player for me, much more important than you can imagine," Mourinho said recently.

"Ander Herrera was Player of the Season and does not start matches.That's life in the big clubs.We gave Michael Carrick a contract because we think he is a good player.We think he is an important player.

"He's only on a team where Matic and Fellaini are in the best shape I've seen them at the moment."

On Saturday, there was a sense of inevitability about a United victory before the match had begun and only grew within three minutes when Juan Mata hit home after a great left-hander work by Marcus Rashford.

Ashley Young summoned Fellaini for the first time towards the end of the first half with a delicious cross and the Belgian converted the left free kick of Rashford for another shortly after the break. Romelu Lukaku took advantage of his usual goal - 11 in 10 for United - with four minutes remaining.

As the social media were immediately taken by the memes that compare Fellaini with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it was clear that the 29-year transformation of the joke figure to part of the furniture has been more than completed. While Fellaini's rather rudimentary football style and uncomfortable looking gait remain, their importance for this side only grows.

While United continues to launch a more dynamic attack and a stronger pressure game, when without the ball, Fellaini is able to affect the games much higher in the field than has been largely true in the past.

Rarely now he is being asked probing questions in his own half, and instead he is given more opportunities to affect things in the final third. The more United you have the ball, the more you play to the Belgian qualities.

And that makes it an accessory at this Manchester United facility for some time to come. There are people who show up as United fans who continue to wonder why Fellaini remains a part of the squad, apparently preferring an aesthetically pleasing XI to an effective, winning.

As Mourinho said after the victory over Palace, "I have always relied on Marouane, from day one, and try to give him confidence and show him how useful it is for the team."
While there are games much harder than this one that comes by the side of Mourinho, Fellaini has done everything that anyone could ask him until now. There can be no doubt that he is there on merit at least.