Geordie great Alan Shearer says Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic deserves greater credit for the team's current form.

Matic and Bruno Fernandes were part of the Red Devils' crushing 3-0 win over Brighton, which has now brought them two points behind Chelsea.

Shearer said: “The plaudits are going to Bruno Fernandes because he was the game-changer but I think someone who definitely deserves a mention is Nemanja Matic.

“The way he sweeps up in front of the defence enables those two [Fernandes and Paul Pogba] to do their stuff further forward."

Matic showed off this skill with his long pass which set up a swift counter-attack finished by Fernandes.

“He's the one who gives them protection which enables them to get ahead of the play and do some magic and that's what they did against Brighton," Shearer added.

“His passing has been fantastic and he's really stepped up. He constantly wins the ball back and sets Man United on their way.

“He really does his bit defensively and he's the one who is always there to clean it up. There's no doubt that he's stepping up his performances."