Marouane Fellaini's Renaissance

ManUtd.com's Mark Froggatt assesses the rise of October Goal of the Month winner Marouane Fellaini ahead of Saturday's clash with Crystal Palace, the team he debuted against 14 months ago...

Almost every player that signs for Manchester United states they have realised a lifelong ambition by joining an institution of this stature. This was no different for Marouane Fellaini, unaware that his first season in Red wouldn't quite resemble the dream start he had envisaged.

The Belgian made his debut during a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in September 2013, stepping off the bench to consolidate three points in front of an Old Trafford crowd that was littered with supportive banners, cheers and comedy wigs. It was a day of optimism, for both the player and the fans.

Some five months later, in the return fixture, the hulking Belgian returned from a wrist injury to produce one of the best performances of his maiden campaign as goals from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie secured another straightforward triumph over the Eagles. The problem was that he only made 11 appearances between those two games, having suffered a spate of morale-sapping injuries that prevented him from achieving any level of consistency. As he explained in the summer, "I need to be fit to be good".

So to the present day and Fellaini is preparing to face Palace once again, this time in rude health and good form. The 26-year-old looks confident as an increasingly important figure in Louis van Gaal's team following a number of eye-catching displays against West Brom, Chelsea and Manchester City. In many ways, this weekend's Premier League encounter sees him at a high point in his 14-month career at the Theatre of Dreams.

Fellaini's renaissance can be traced back to The Hawthorns and his first United goal, after coming on as a substitute to score when chested the ball down, turned adroitly and powered his finish past Boaz Myhill. That second-half effort earned him a first start of the campaign against Chelsea and it was his stifling of Cesc Fabregas that helped United clinch a dramatic point at Old Trafford. After covering more ground than any other player that night, the marauding midfielder was rightfully named United's Man of the Match.

Days later, I was due to interview Fellaini at the Aon Training Complex. We'd spoken towards the end of last season and I found him focused but shy, which was fair in his first year at a new club.

However, this time he was a new man, bounding in with a distinctive grin, laughing and talking with a glint in his eye. Adnan Januzaj was also on media duties and the 19-year-old was proud of his compatriot's return to form. "He's my friend and I'm pleased for him," he said. "He deserves it because he worked hard for it and has had a lot of injuries. It has been hard for him to come back and I was really happy to see him scoring."

A sign of Fellaini's resurgence arrived two minutes into the derby when his first touch was a neat pirouette away from James Milner, allowing him to move the ball on under pressure. This glimpse of impressive technique preceded another combative outing, which again saw him top the distance running charts for both teams. Although he unfortunately spurned a late chance to score with a header, Sunday's match at the Etihad suggests there is more to come from the Belgian.

Fellaini's renaissance is supported by a host of team-mates with club and country, including City captain Vincent Kompany. "People shouldn't forget it was his first season at United," he explained in the summer. "It's a big move and he deserves some time. It will sound weird because he plays for the red half of the city but I want him to get back to his best. He’s one of those special players, you just feel he can have a big impact on the team."

The man himself is determined to kick on after a difficult first season. "Football is like this, sometimes you have bad moments and that was one," he recently explained. "But I am ready for the challenge and to play every game. I am happy here and the manager has shown trust in me. Every day in training, I work hard and after that the manager makes a decision."

While Fellaini is yet to fully force van Gaal's hand when it comes to team selection as he faces ever more competition for places from the returning Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera, he certainly appears closer to realising his Old Trafford dream.

Credit: Manutd.com