KEY STAT: POGBA TOPS EUROPEAN ASSIST CHART

Paul Pogba’s influence is clear to Manchester United supporters, and now the Frenchman’s outstanding contribution has been highlighted by a statistic that emerged earlier this week.

After setting up two goals in the 3-0 win over Stoke City, Pogba now has the best assists-to-games record of any player in the top five European leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain).

There are six players who have all chalked up nine assists, including Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane, plus Paris Saint-Germain’s world-record signing Neymar, but Paul has the edge on them all because he has made fewer appearances due to his periods of injury and suspension.

Check out the numbers…

PLAYERS ON NINE ASSISTS IN EUROPE’S TOP FIVE LEAGUES
Paul Pogba, Manchester United: 13 Premier League appearances
Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain: 14 Ligue 1 appearances
Philipp Max, FC Augsburg: 18 Bundesliga appearances
Pione Sisto, Celta Vigo: 19 La Liga appearances
Leroy Sane, Manchester City: 21 Premier League appearances
Florian Thauvin, Olympique de Marseille: 21 Ligue 1 appearances
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City: 23 Premier League appearances

THE CHANGE IN PROFILE

In his post-match interview with MUTV, Jose Mourinho was full of praise for Pogba and admitted the France international is benefiting from a slight change in position that offers more freedom. “He was moving the ball fantastically well, with long passes changing the direction and creating problems for the opponent. He had two assists and if he had scored the free-kick with the last shot of the game, it would be really a reward for him. He is happy with the way the team is playing and he's happy because the team is changing the profile and the profile is going more in his direction.”

MATIC IS KEY TO POGBA'S FORM

Club legend Denis Irwin also stated his admiration for Pogba, while speaking on MUTV on Tuesday. “Pogba was terrific against Stoke and I have to say he is helped by Nemanja Matic, because he just gets on with his job defensively and allows Paul to get on with his game. We won at a canter in the second half and, when push came to shove, we could have won by several more goals in the end.”

HE HAS CONFIDENCE, ARROGANCE AND PERSONALITY

Monday’s win over the Potters was broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports, for whom Gary Neville spoke eloquently about Pogba’s contribution. “They miss him so much when he’s not there,” the former right-back explained. “They drop in performance in terms of the connection from defence to attack [without Pogba]. When he’s not there, it’s completely different for United. He’s got the confidence, the arrogance and personality to play for United. He always wants the ball and they’re a far better team when he’s in there.”

UNBEATEN IN THE LEAGUE SINCE 2016

Remarkably, Pogba is currently unbeaten in his last 35 Premier League matches (since the loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 23 October 2016) and that is more than any other player in the competition. Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus is the next man on the list with 28 games unbeaten and David Silva has gone 25 without losing. Pogba missed December's home defeat to the Blues, as well as the losses at Huddersfield Town and Chelsea, highlighting his importance to the team