There were many elements to Manchester United’s opening goal at Southampton. Wayne Rooney’s flick forwards, Jose Fonte’s blind pass and Robin van Persie’s measured finish. But there was another factor in the goal that will not be lost on United supporters. Michael Carrick.

The midfielder found himself in the perfect position to recover possession and then, crucially, didn’t play a mere hopeful ball forwards or a sideways pass. Instead he provided penetration, taking Southampton midfielders out of the game, breaking the lines to find Rooney in the hole.

It’s a quality United had been missing. Van Persie has suffered due to a lack of service as Louis van Gaal’s side have regularly struggled to get the ball into the feet of their attacking talent quickly enough before opponents were set up to deal with the threat.

Michael Carrick and Daley Blind

“I was talking about Robin van Persie and the runs he makes against Manchester City and people not spotting them,” Gary Neville told Monday Night Football. “He spots them. It might look like a really simple thing but Michael Carrick is a very good passer of the ball forwards.

“People probably didn’t like it a few weeks ago when I was a little critical of Daley Blind but United have missed this – the passes around the corner and the difference this makes in setting up an attack is incredible.”

Blind v Carrick Man Utd Player Minutes played Passes into final third Michael Carrick 497 54 Daley Blind 720 60

Despite Blind playing almost four hours more football in the Premier League this season, Carrick has already played 54 passes into the final third compared to the Dutchman’s 60 – and that’s having spent most of the match against Southampton filling in as part of a back three.

It might look like a really simple thing but Michael Carrick is a very good passer of the ball forwards. Neville on Carrick

The previous week against Hull, Carrick played 21 passes into the final third – the most by any United player so far this season. It’s helped Van Gaal’s side get the ball forwards with quality and been a factor in them winning five consecutive matches since he returned to the team.

In part, that’s because he’s been a key influence defensively as well. Soon after the opener there was a vital interception on Saido Mane. “That’s where Michael Carrick has come in very handy, ducking in between this back three and sniffing out the danger,” said Alan Smith on co-commentary.

It remains a makeshift defence with Paddy McNair being asked to learn on the job and Marcos Rojo having to assume a senior role when he should be being afforded time to adapt himself. Carrick’s experience has undoubtedly been a help in that respect since coming back into the side.

Louis van Gaal: We were lucky Louis van Gaal: We were lucky

Having conceded 12 goals in 10 games before his return, United have now conceded just three goals in their last five games. It’s not a coincidence. “That’s what he brings,” says Neville. “General protection of the back four, experience, intelligence.”

Even Carrick couldn’t save United for the equaliser. Marouane Fellaini needlessly surrendered possession in his own half and the team looked ragged in dealing with the subsequent ball into the box. Carrick’s desperate lunge towards Graziano Pelle only saw the effort deflected into the net.

Michael Carrick's positioning after moving into defence and his passing at Southampton

Carrick had to go back into the defensive line after 39 minutes when McNair was withdrawn. The youngster had endured a difficult start but he wasn’t alone. That Carrick seemingly had to ascertain the nature of the change himself summed up the chaos.

His removal from midfield brought problems elsewhere. Van Gaal had many holes to fill and not enough at his disposal with which to plug the gaps. Fellaini took Carrick’s deeper role in midfield but found himself pressured by a Southampton side sensing danger whenever he was on the ball.

It felt like United were doing everything wrong but they still had enough quality in the final third to allow them to grab the points, exposing Southampton’s own errors through two Van Persie goals. Even so, they were never far from looking foolish themselves – Rojo losing possession at 2-1 only for Carrick to bail him out.

In the short term, Van Gaal finds himself so desperate for reliable players that playing Carrick at the back is perhaps the best bet. It’s far from convincing preparation for the game against Liverpool on Sunday, but wherever he plays, there will be more confidence around Old Trafford with Carrick in the team.