They say you never know how much you miss something until it has gone and never has this been so apt to describe Paul Pogba’s absence from this Manchester United midfield in recent weeks.

His importance can never be underestimated and it may just rejuvenate the Red Devils’ title challenge.

October was a tough month for Jose Mourinho’s men and the team – that started the season so well and was free scoring to boot – looked disjointed, devoid of ideas and far from dominant in matches.

Performances against Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea in particular drew negative column inches that cited that United were dull to watch, uninventive and their pragmatic approach was not befitting of a team that had been assembled at such a high cost.

The Special One as always batted away all criticisms; however, deep down he realized more than most what a gaping hole Pogba left in that midfield and how much his presence frees up the rest of the team to attack at will.

Saturday’s 4-1 win against Newcastle was United’s best performance in weeks. It was no coincidence that Pogba put in a man of the match performance and there was a real fluidity in the way we attacked throughout the game.

The Frenchman brings energy alongside Matic and his box to box running throughout lifted the rest of the players alongside him – no more so than his best mate Romelu Lukaku who finally ended his barren spell in front of goal.

It feels Pogba’s return and also that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has come at the ideal time for Mourinho as we fast approach what is a busy December for fixtures.

Pogba had his critics last season, largely down to the world record price tag weighing heavy on his shoulders and the criticism was unjust for those who watched him up close last season and understood presence he had within the team.

Given United’s performances in his absence in the past few weeks and his subsequent return on Saturday – it appears the wider football community have finally woken up to the Frenchman’s importance at Old Trafford.