So is he finally coming good? Few players have elicited so much frustration among fans in recent years as Herrera, mainly because they know he has so much more to offer than what they have seen so far but also because they could see him visibly wilting, regressing even, under a manager who did not get him. Now 27, Herrera knows this is a defining season for him at Old Trafford but supporters are already seeing the green shoots of recovery and hope the player is about to fully bloom.

Anyone who watched Herrera’s success in a deeper lying midfield role in the 3-1 win at Bournemouth earlier this season will not have been surprised by the quality of his performance in a similar position in Saturday’s 4-1 trouncing of Leicester City. But his display against the reigning Premier League champions appears to have made plenty sit up and take notice.