Phil Jones dominant yet again as Manchester United defender puts himself in England starting contention with another complete performance

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Victor Lindelof briefly brought the leafy lane leading up to Manchester United's training base to a halt on Friday afternoon. 

Supporters were waiting at the gates ready to pounce for autographs from their heroes as Lindelof attempted to snake his way home.

Dutifully, the £31million signing stopped his black Mercedes and obliged for longer than he might have done.

Phil Jones put on a dominant display as Manchester United beat Leicester City 2-0 on Saturday

He kept Jamie Vardy quiet as United recorded a third straight Premier League clean sheet

Those who crowded his wheels left Carrington with selfies and scribbles of a man who is yet to play in the Premier League. Someone who has only made one matchday squad, in fact.

Lindelof was supposed to be the central defensive answer - he surely will still be long term - but Jose Mourinho has turned to a man derided for solidity in the interim instead. A very shrewd move indeed.

This is quite the renaissance for Phil Jones, one that has been ongoing for months. The niggling injuries have disappeared. Those who regularly poke fun at him have quietened. United have not conceded a Premier League goal so far.

Three clean sheets for Jones and Eric Bailly alongside him suggest Mourinho has got this spot on. It has left Chris Smalling kicking his heels too, but Jones is deserving of the chance.

So often last season, with United insipid, Jones would be the one coming out with credit to his name and the 25-year-old has carried on from where he left off.

That was in evidence on Saturday, with Jamie Vardy - who has started this term in devilish mood - finding it tough to get any change out of Jones.

The 25-year-old also handled Riyad Mahrez well, displaying composure and intelligence

Jones has formed a fine partnership with Eric Bailly at the heart of the Red Devils backline

The amount of times Vardy threatened to run in behind could be counted on one hand. A complete contrast to at Arsenal, where Leicester lost 4-3 a fortnight prior.

The way Jones plays the game - blood, thunder and all the rest - means there are those who say he is too helter-skelter to really prove a success at the genuine top level. There are moments that are evidence of that, as he dived in and was sent the wrong way by Riyad Mahrez when this remained goalless.

Yet so too is the way he forced Mahrez to run a ball out when dancing in the box just minutes later. Jones is fearless and Mourinho clearly sees something in him. His reaction to the UEFA doping official who deprived him of celebrating the Europa League final win will have endeared him to the manager.

His reading of the game is exemplary, stepping out of the back four to intercept dangerous situations, and is not given the praise it warrants. Quick feet, too. Maybe detractors cannot see beyond the amusing faces he pulls when stretching every sinew to defend for his team. A leader, a good communicator, a fierce competitor.

Calm on the ball, he strides out with the sort of confidence you would expect from an individual who spent his formative years bossing midfields at Blackburn's academy in Brockhall village.

Little wonder Gareth Southgate has again called him up to the England squad. Looking at the options, including Gary Cahill and John Stones, there is an argument for him starting in Malta on Friday night. It'd be just his second cap since November 2015 but Jones is the form England central defender right now.

Sweden defender Victor Lindelof, who signed for over £30m this summer, can't get in the team

Jones, who made his England debut back in 2011, is rightly back in the international picture