Some time this month members of the Professional Footballers’ Association will receive voting papers for Player of the Year. The frontrunner is Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, but sprinting close behind – as he has done so impressively all season - is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

If you had asked me a few months ago who deserved this year’s accolade I would have said it must be De Bruyne, especially given the massive gap between the champions-elect and the rest. It will be no surprise if City’s domestic dominance ensures their best player is rewarded.

But with respect to the Belgian, the more I assess Salah’s contribution, the more I feel he deserves to push De Bruyne far closer than I imagined. He has the potential to go ahead in the next few weeks, particularly if he produces a match-winning performance at Old Trafford next weekend.

Not so long ago I suggested no Liverpool signing has ever made a better start to their Premier League career than Salah. Now I will go further.

No signing at any English club has made a better start to their Premier League career than Salah.