Nemanja Matic: Paul Pogba ‘can still improve’ after starring in Manchester United’s win over Huddersfield

Pogba scored twice in United's first win at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Nemanja Matic believes Paul Pogba can still improve and become a regular match-winner for Manchester United after his brace in their Boxing Day victory over Huddersfield Town.

Pogba added two second-half goals to Matic’s first-half opener as United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a 3-1 victory on his return to Old Trafford.

Solskjaer’s predecessor, Jose Mourinho, dropped Pogba for what-would-be his final games in charge after the pair’s relationship had become strained.

However, as expected, Solskjaer has based his team around United’s record signing in his first two games and been rewarded with two impressive performances.

Pogba’s goals against Huddersfield followed a more inventive performance in Cardiff, where the France international notched two assists in a 5-1 victory.

Matic believes that his midfield partner’s quality can set United apart from their opponents, and thinks Pogba can play even better than his eye-catching Boxing Day display.

“As I’ve said in previous interviews about him when they asked me about him, he’s very important for us,” the Serbian said.

“When he plays at his best, he can make the difference in every game. But he played also today very well, but I think that he can do even more.

“But slowly, game-by-game. Today [was] very important for him to score some goals. The confidence for the next one is going to be bigger and he needs to know that he still can improve.

“He needs to know that he’s very important for this team. As I said, his quality can make the difference every game and, yeah, I hope that he will continue like this.”

Upon Matic’s arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of last year, he was expected to provide the perfect defensive foil for Pogba’s creative talents.

The reality has not been quite so straightforward, with Pogba in and out of the starting line-up under Mourinho and Matic’s place questioned at times too.

The Serbian believes that Pogba can now kick on at Old Trafford, though the midfielder must be supported by every United ‘giving their best’.

Paul Pogba celebrates after netting his second goal against Huddersfield (AFP/Getty)

“We had great games,” Matic said of his partnership with Pogba. “Also last season, we know that we finished second, it’s not perfect, but we had good games.

“I know that he can play well. It doesn’t matter if it’s with me, Ander [Herrera], Fred in the middle, or [Marouane] Fellaini.

“I think that if we give our best, everyone on the pitch, then his quality of my quality, or Marcus Rashford’s, Jesse Lingard’s quality can make the difference.

“But if we are not giving everything that we can, then one player cannot change anything.”