Take your mind back to the summer of 2011.

Back then Samir Nasri was on his way out of Arsenal, another one of Arsene Wenger’s big-name players that was being priced out of the Emirates. His destination it always seemed was Manchester, but people were unsure of whether he would be lining up in a red or a blue shirt.

Well it truly was a blessing in disguise that he signed for Manchester City. Why am I so happy about this, well it’s not because of Nasri’s poor performance in the derby at the weekend nor is it the fact that his form for City hasn’t been exactly brilliant since his £25m switch form Arsenal.

Tom Cleverley is the reason. It’s as simple as that, because had Nasri signed for United then there’s a good chance that may well have been seen as an admission from Sir Alex Ferguson that Tom wasn’t and wouldn’t have been good enough to ‘make it’ at Old Trafford, despite his great reviews on loan at Leicester City, Watford and Wigan.

Last season Cleverley started the season well shining against Spurs and Chelsea before suffering a nasty ankle injury at the hands of a dreadful challenge from Bolton’s Kevin Davies. Despite several comebacks in the season, he didn’t quite look the same player that started the season and looked low on confidence.

This year he’s looked back to his best and has looked good alongside Anderson and then Michael Carrick in the heart of United’s midfield. He isn’t the biggest or strongest but he isn’t afraid to put himself about this showed in the build-up to Wayne Rooney’s second in the derby-win.

Of course he is by no means the complete midfielder. He’s 23 years of age. But he’s come a long in the last couple of years and has been a regular starter for Roy Hodgson this season impressing alongside Carrick in August’s friendly win over Italy.

Yes he still needs to work on his shooting and the timing of his runs as well his passing when under pressure, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s to Tom’s hard-work and impressive performances that there are some United fans who don’t want Sir Alex to splash the cash on a certain Wesley Sneijder in January, however talented the Dutchman may be.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87