Matic moved to Old Trafford this summer in a £40m deal.

Jose Mourinho worked with the Serb enforcer at Chelsea and he played a key role in 2015 as the Portuguese steered the club to the title.

The duo are chasing the same goal this season at Man Utd, and Gale thinks he’s been the pick of the bunch in the top flight.

“I’ll go for Matic because simply he’s made the biggest difference,” Gale said on Sky Sports News when quizzed over the Premier League’s most outstanding midfielders.

“Obviously there are more creative central midfield players around and everybody will go to the flare ones.

“But in terms of the importance to Man United, he’s the one for me.

“And believe it or not, although he does give that defensive solidity to them in front of the back four, he can see a pass as well.

“Because he’s six-foot four, maybe a little bit gangly, people don’t think he’s got that ability, but he has.

“So for me, it has to be Matic.

"He’s made the big difference for Man United.

“Why Chelsea sold him, I haven’t got a clue.”

Matic could be flaunting his skills at the World Cup next summer with Serbia.

Serbia are top of Group D, four points above Wales and five ahead of Ireland.

Victory away at Austria on Friday will ensure they’re in Russia for the tournament next term.

If they don’t get the job done in Vienna, they could seal their place by beating Georgia in Belgrade on Monday.