Cristiano Ronaldo can prove he still has key role to play at Manchester United vs Real Sociedad

It's no coincidence that Manchester United's turnaround in fortunes and longest winning streak in some years has come without Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI.

Ronaldo played from the off in the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford but hasn't done so since, with a new, fluid and dynamic attack helping inspire United to four successive victories, two of which came against Liverpool and the undefeated Arsenal. It's been clear since the No.7 returned to Old Trafford that, though he may score the goals himself, the team's overall attacking output dramatically decreases as the system is changed to accommodate him.

When you have to spend significantly more time running about and tracking back to make up for a static forward, you have a lot less time, space and energy to get in amongst the goals yourself. It cost United severely last season but Erik ten Hag has been brave enough to drop him and the results speak for themselves.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag gives update on Ronaldo role

United looked creative, rapid and clinical with their fresh forward line of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony in the 3-1 over the Gunners and it's difficult to see Ronaldo wrestling his way into that set-up if all three remain fit. But that doesn't mean the Portuguese still doesn't have a crucial role to play. Which he can show on Thursday night.

It's clear that Ronaldo would rather not be at Old Trafford anymore. He spent the summer angling for a move in order to return to Champions League football but no suitors were forthcoming. That should be a sizeable wake-up call, he is no longer - if he ever was - capable of providing the intense pressing football that is a requirement for almost every top team in the sport today. That's no sleight,