Man Utd vs Middlesbrough Mourinho upbeat as he faces old friend Karanka

Such a tally is still some way short of the 17 he netted across all competitions during his debut campaign in English football, however, and Mourinho is eager for the player to ignore outside influences and focus exclusively on his advice in order to fulfil that significant potential.

The comeback victory was a flawless gift for Sir Alex Ferguson, who was in the stands celebrating his 75th birthday, and Pogba revelled in a classic comeback.

It stays sixth with 36 points from 19 rounds, still 13 points behind leaders Chelsea at the halfway point of the season, but maintains its challenge for the Champions League spots. “They needed those players to beat you, so we are doing something good”.

The manager was being hammered in the press and by many fans on social media, but match-going Reds have been steadily encouraged with what they have been watching for the last few months.

Mourinho has made sure of saying all the right things with regards to the England forward’s value to his club, but the fact is he has started just eight of United’s 18 league matches under Mourinho, and has not scored in the English top division since the opening weekend.

United hope to extend their run when they play at the new London stadium for the first time today against West Ham United, a team which provided the opposition in three of the team’s most memorable games of 2016. “I know he’s a top talent”, he told a press conference. “He’s a victor; he wants to win every game, every competition”.

“The club, the board, are totally with me – they don’t want to sell players”.

If there was a criticism of Boro’s performance, it related to Adama Traore’s decision-making, which still leaves a lot to be desired when posited against his obvious talent.

But United were not done and put Boro away just two minutes later.

It was a long ball that tore Boro open, as Ibrahimovic’s flick on was done off by Martial, who wrong-footed Valdes from 12 yards out.

They dominated possession, territory and opportunities, but although Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a goal controversially chalked off in the first half, and both Martial and Pogba hit the post, it had appeared to be heading towards a familiar tale of what might have been for Mourinho.

[Image by Getty/Alex Livesey]It’s a very good feeling, as I was expecting I don’t feel the same happiness because my brother is on the other side.

Middlesbrough seemed determined to hold on but eventually, United’s dominance proved too much.