It wasn't so long ago that people were getting as excited about Manchester United defender Phil Jones as they are now about John Stones at Manchester City.
There are obvious similarities: both are English centre-backs, both are comfortable on the ball, both came through the youth systems of north-west English clubs before earning big-money moves as youngsters.
Jones has become something of a forgotten man at United in recent seasons. Many have suggested he has no future at Old Trafford.
But the English defender’s failure to establish himself at United is hardly his fault. In five seasons at Old Trafford, the most league games he has started is 26 (out of 38). In 2012/13 he started only 14 games. Last season it was six.
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A succession of long-term injuries have seen him go from future-captain material to squad player to a player with no prospects.
Ironically, it is injuries to others that is allowing Jones a run in the team and a shot at what could be a final chance to establish himself at Old Trafford. And he is making a fine go of it.
The thing is, Jones’s talent never went away. He is still only 24 and has huge potential. His reading of the game is superb, though, his decision making needs to improve. He has a tendency to put his body on the line unnecessarily at times, too – hence the number of injuries.
What Jones needs is a consistent run of games. His performance in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Saturday was a good follow-up to a solid display two weeks ago against Swansea City.
The late equaliser conceded to Olivier Giroud was not Jones’s fault – he appeared to be fouled in the build-up – and he was otherwise rock solid. Several times he stepped in front of an Arsenal player, intercepting a through ball with anticipation.
He rightly earned praise from manager Jose Mourinho who will hope Jones’s injury problems are behind him with first-choice centre-backs Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly sidelined.
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Kevin de Bruyne’s delivery is priceless
Kevin de Bruyne is the 2016/17 version of the 2015/16 Mesut Ozil: The Premier League’s assist master.
Manchester City's Belgian midfielder has seven assists in 12 games, he has scored two fantastic free kicks already this season, but his deliveries from set pieces are possibly the best in the business.
Take his corner kick for Yaya Toure's winner in the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace. De Bruyne caught Palace's defence napping, driving the ball along the ground for Toure to tap-in from six yards while the back four were preparing to defend the corner.
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It is one thing having the vision to spot that opportunity, but De Bruyne had a three to four-yard area to send the ball into, which he did at perfect pace from 20 yards away.
The class and consistency of his balls from set pieces will produce more goals for City this season and could be invaluable in tight games.
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West Ham United in a bit of bother
West Ham United’s next three fixtures are the stuff of nightmares: Manchester United away, Arsenal at home, Liverpool away with a League Cup quarter-final at United sandwiched in there for good measure.
Given that they sit just a point above the relegation zone following Sunday's last-gasp 3-2 away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, it must be a worry.
Slaven Bilic would be happy with a point from each of those games. It is highly likely, though, that they lose at least two of those matches and are in the bottom three at the end of that sequence.
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