Manchester United started their Premier League campaign with three consecutive wins. That gives the fans several reasons to be happy and hopeful about the team’s title chances this season. And while Jose Mourinho deserves credit for the team’s performances, there are a few players that have stood out thus far.

David De Gea has been quite solid, and registers three straight clean sheets. Eric Bailly scored against Swansea and has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Henrikh Mkhitaryan leads the league with five assists in three games. And Romelu Lukaku has already found the back of the net three times as well.

However, there is one player who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. And that is no one else than Marouane Fellaini. Despite the fact the Belgian could have left the club during the summer, Mourinho insisted he wanted to keep him. And so far, Mou has been right. Even if Fellaini only has a secondary role within the team.

Fellaini has not started a single game yet, but his sole presence can change a game for United. That is exactly what he did against Swansea City and, most recently, against Leicester City this past Saturday.

Against the Welsh side, Fellaini’s presence was key to recover possession in midfield. The fact that United scored three goals after he came off the bench is not a coincidence. He did not score and did not register an assist either, but he became the perfect complement for Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba in the middle of the park.

He was even better against Leicester, though. Fellaini came off the bench in a complicated moment, with a 0-0 score and when United had missed a penalty. But the Belgian brought some much-needed experience and poise to the team. And since it couldn’t have been any other way, Fellaini closed the scoreline with a deflection following a pass from Jesse Lingard.

Considering the stellar play of Mkhitaryan, Pogba and Matic, it is hard to imagine Fellaini starting any time soon. But the Belgian international once again has shown that he is an important player for The Red Devils. Even if most fans want him gone.