The importance of Marouane Fellaini should not be underestimated (Getty)

He may not be a favourite among Manchester United fans, but few now argue with the effectiveness of Marouane Fellaini.

Statistics show just how important he is to Jose Mourinho’s team and reveal why he will be badly missed during his recovery from injury.

The former Everton player has picked up knee ligament damage while on international duty and is certain to miss the clash with Liverpool this coming weekend.

The precise timeframe on his return to action is not yet clear but he could be out for weeks which would see him miss games with Huddersfield and Tottenham in the Premier League and Benfica in the Champions League.

Fellaini’s 100% start

Fellaini has appeared in six Premier League games so far this season and Manchester United have won all of them.

The one game he didn’t play ended in a draw.

The timing is particular bad for Manchester United with his fellow midfielders Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick also currently unavailable.

Mourinho must figure out how to cope without Fellaini (Getty)

Just how badly he will be missed is clear from the statistics with and without the Belgian in the side.

Figures from the Premier League show that Manchester United have a better win percentage with him in the side (53% to 50%), they score more goals (1.61 to 1.52 per game), concede fewer (0.86 to 1 per game) and collect more points per game (1.83 to 1.78).

As much as Fellaini has been maligned during his time at Old Trafford, the figures show how desperate Manchester United will be to get him back.

Graphic provided by Oulala, the daily fantasy football game.

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