A look at United's results since the 4-0 win against AZ Alkmaar, his previous appearance had been in October against the same opposition, when we kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw, hint at Matic's importance to the side.

The Reds had 11 shut-outs in his 16 outings and even this impressive record deserves a little more scrutiny, as he only came on at half-time in the first-leg cup defeat to City, with the score at 0-3, and was crucial in helping to steady the ship as the Reds reduced the arrears and kept things alive for the second leg.

In the last 10 games he has started, we've scored 17 times and conceded only six goals.

So it is no wonder the club has exercised the option to extend his contract, due to expire in the summer, for another year, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently suggested.