How Paul Pogba has been released by Jose Mourinho to wreak havoc on the Premier League this season
PAUL POGBA is finally showing his best form for Manchester United after being released from his shackles to wreak havoc on the Premier League.
The £89million midfielder struggled to impose himself in his first year back at Old Trafford as he was forced to curtail his natural game for the good of the team.
But Jose Mourinho's summer purchase of Nemanja Matic has suddenly brought balance to the United side - and allowed Pogba to cut loose on opposition defences.
The French midfielder has scored twice already in his opening two matches as he begins the new season in ominous form.
It took five matches before he got off the mark in the league for United last season, and it was not until November when he scored his second.
And our pictures show the 24-year-old is benefiting from a freedom on the pitch he was not allowed last year.
Our heat-maps compare the Pogba display in today's 4-0 win at Swansea to how he played a year to the day ago in the home match against Southampton.
In that match at Old Trafford, the midfielder did as much work defending in his own half as he did going forward.
Latest Man Utd news
But against Swansea, the figures show the presence of Matic in the side has allowed Pogba to largely forget his defensive duties and spend more time playing in the areas he can caused maximum damage.
At the Liberty Stadium, Pogba touched the ball 23 times in his own half of the field.
But in the 2-0 home win over Southampton 12 months ago, his touch-map shows he was on the ball an astonishing 50 times in United's own half.
United boss Mourinho has long insisted his record signing just needed time to begin to show his class.
And Pogba himself appears a more settled player on the pitch, with more belief in the team-mates around him.
He said: "We are more confident [than last season]. We know each other more. We work for each other and I think that is easier for us.
"We've had a very good result, 4-0 again with a clean sheet, We want to carry on this road."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest transfer news and speculation with our live transfer feed