N'Golo Kante's presence on the PFA player of the year shortlist alongside glamour boys Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic underlines that defensive midfield players are no longer dismissed as water carriers, the famous phrase Eric Cantona used for France's World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps.
Kante's appearance for Premier League leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford will also draw comparisons with Paul Pogba who signed for Manchester United in a world-record £89million deal three weeks after Antonio Conte nabbed Kante for a third of the price.
While Chelsea arrive in the north-west as champions-elect thanks largely to Kante, United sit outside the top four and Pogba has just had to deal with more criticism after missing a key chance against Anderlecht on Thursday.