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"I train the players in their brains, not their legs," Louis van Gaal proclaimed in Denver four months ago. It was again apparent after United recorded a third win in a row for the first time since December that the Dutchman has made good on his promise.

Almost half of the United team that lined up against Hull City could easily have been discarded in the summer.

Antonio Valencia has performed abysmally since he failed to challenge the erratic Eric Abidal in the 2011 Champions League final. Ashley Young resembled a United player in his first couple of months but has failed to justify his billing as Ryan Giggs' heir. Chris Smalling's distribution has, unforgivably, not improved since he joined as a 20-year-old from Fulham in 2010. Michael Carrick, a gifted footballer, has played too tentatively too often and Marouane Fellaini looked as out of his depth as David Moyes.

How satisfying for Van Gaal, then, that he has restored confidence to each member of that quintet. Last season's forlorn five merited their starts against Hull City and will expect to retain their places against Stoke City on Tuesday.

Valencia and Young have been more Pete Barnes and David Bellion than Kanchelskis and Giggs, yet they have adapted well to full-back roles in recent weeks after Rafael da Silva and Luke Shaw suffered injuries. Van Gaal could have deployed Marcos Rojo at left-back yet the faith he has shown in Young is simple and effective man-management.

Hull performed as embarrassingly as David Mellor in a black cab, but United have struggled for consistency in defence and Valencia and Young's presence complemented an exciting XI.

Fewer players regressed more drastically under Moyes than Carrick but against Hull he showed flickers of the player he should have developed into during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign.

United fans hollered "It's Carrick, you know, it's hard to believe it's not Scholes," two seasons ago and on Saturday it was a credible comparison with two memorable passes for Robin van Persie. Alas, the Dutchman was flagged offside on both occasions.

Toni Kroos is a superior player than Carrick and yet the 33-year-old's weekend performance hinted at why Van Gaal rejected the Germany international. Van Gaal said in July it was a "big blow" to lose Carrick for three months and since his return at City four weeks ago United fans have seen why.

Carrick has brought a serenity to the defence and United have kept two clean sheets in the four games he has played this campaign.

Beside him, Fellaini looks worthy of the red shirt. Unfairly scapegoated as a Moyes disciple last term, too many overlooked United's failure to sufficiently strengthen in the 2013 summer transfer window and the Belgian's wrist injury. He performed terribly, but so did the majority of the players.

Fellaini's goal at West Bromwich Albion has kick-started his United career and he has proven how technically proficient a footballer he is. Few control a football so gently on their chest as Fellaini and he is perhaps a more skillful player than even his ardent admirers thought he was.

Ander Herrera is a nimbler and slicker player who brought a fluency to United's play, however it is debatable whether he should replace Carrick or Fellaini. Stoke's visit could signal the triumvirate's first start versus Stoke.

Smalling was United's best centre-back last season and has a genuine chance to cement his status as a first-teamer beside Rojo. Rightly recalled against Arsenal, he policed Danny Welbeck easily and, as the de facto leader in the back four, led rookies Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett commendably.

In his first season at the club, Smalling actually developed an uncompromising partnership with Nemanja Vidic. Injuries, of course, to the duo the next season scuppered their progress as a defensive axis, which allowed Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans to revive their United careers. A brittle centre-back despite his imposing physique, Smalling will have to work on his durability.

"It is a question of confidence, or maybe scoring a wonderful goal at the right moment," Van Gaal said on Friday. He was clearly in prophetic form, as even Van Persie used his brain against Hull.