The trio that have made Manchester United unstoppable this season

We know what you're thinking. Manchester United: unstoppable?

It has certainly not been plain sailing for Erik ten Hag throughout his debut campaign in English football, but the weekend win over Nottingham Forest was evidence of the undeniable progress they have been making.

United responded to a devastating double injury blow by strengthening their top-four ambitions and proving that they are still a side capable of winning comfortably without their best players.

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Any team would miss its star performers, but the sign of a good one is that it will still find a way to win without them. Even without top scorer Marcus Rashford and their two best defenders, they did just that.

United fans would have been happy with any win given the circumstances heading into the trip to Nottingham, and it says so much about the professional performance that by full-time there was a gluttony for even more goals to reflect their dominance.

The key to that was not the trio of brilliant players that were missing, but the trio of elite midfielders who have made United unstoppable as a force this season.

Again, the immediate response is to roll your eyes and brush aside the hyperbole of a team that is third in the Premier League and playing in the Europa League as 'unstoppable', but in one form they truly have been.

United have been at their best when they have been able to field a side composed of players who are in Ten Hag's desired vision for the team; they did just that on Sunday.

The Dutchman wants players who cherish the ball and are confident with it at their feet. They must not only be able to pick a pass but also know when it is right to do so. Composure is valued just as high as creativity.