MANCHESTER -- Marouane Fellaini deserves more credit for the role he plays at Manchester United, midfield partner Nemanja Matic has said.

Fellaini scored twice as Crystal Palace, without a Premier League goal or point, were thrashed 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manager Jose Mourinho said afterwards that the Belgium international had shown "fight" and character" after struggling to win over some United supporters.

And Matic said he felt the 29-year-old was underappreciated, adding:"He is a great player.

"If you see how he works every day in the training sessions, the games he played didn't surprise me -- that he played well, that he scored goals.

"He doesn't have the credit that he deserves. I don't know why. But I really enjoy playing with him, and I am sure that we will continue like this.

"It's nice to have him in the team because he can defend, on long balls he is strong and he's always dangerous in attack. I am sure that he will show all his quality this season."

Fellaini has become a regular in Mourinho's team since Paul Pogba was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Pogba has already missed five games and sources have told ESPN FC the France international could be out until after the international break in November.

Matic said: "We know that he will be out for some time. He's very important for us, he's a great player, but I am sure that he will be ready soon.

"But we also have great players to play instead of him. We showed in the last few games that everyone is ready to play and everyone can help us."

Matic has been ever present for United in the Premier League and Champions League this season following his £35 million move from Chelsea and Mourinho, who worked with the 29-year-old at Stamford Bridge, said he was playing the best football of his career.

But Matic said he was still trying to recover his fitness after a disrupted summer, adding: "I didn't have preseason. I trained alone.

"I can feel it in some parts of the game. My body is not ready yet and I have some difficulty, of course, but I try to hide that and to play simple. I will be better."