The Manchester United midfielder has come under fire from, among others, legend Paul Scholes for not having enough impact on games.

But Pogba came up with the perfect response with a timely man-of-the-match performance at Goodison Park yesterday.

He ran the game and set up two superbly taken goals by Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard to ensure that, after three frustrating draws, Mourinho secured the win that means he avoided the unwanted distinction of presiding over United’s worst festive period in the Premier League era. 

With Liverpool moving level on points before the game with their win at Burnley, it was important United returned to winning ways, not so much for their title chances but to halt a slump that had suddenly raised fears for their top-four hopes.

But Mourinho’s frustration is that, had his team taken their chances against Leicester, Burnley and Southampton they could easily have taken a maximum points haul from their four games over the holiday period.

With eight players missing, including strikers Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United needed some leaders on the pitch and skipper Pogba led by example as all the momentum Everton had gained following Sam Allardyce’s appointment came shuddering to a halt with a second successive defeat. 

They did not manage a shot on target to underline why Allardyce is closing in on a £25million deal for Turkish international Cenk Tosun.

And this display was not an encouraging way to warm-up for their FA Cup third-round visit to in-form neighbours Liverpool on Friday evening.

Pogba, though, was not United’s only stand-out star as they found a way of playing without target man Lukaku.

Once Martial had put them ahead in the 51st minute they never looked back. Juan Mata set the example after the break by going desperately close with two shots – one saved by Jason Pickford and one that clipped the post.

And it was the Spaniard who started the move that led to Martial’s goal. He burst through midfield to feed Pogba, who in turn fed the ball into the path of Martial.

He capitalised on the time and space Everton offered him on the edge of the penalty area to take a touch and curl home his first goal in nine games.

Lingard’s goal that sealed the points was even better. Luke Shaw headed the ball forward from an Everton throw, Pogba picked out Lingard who evaded Michael Keane’s half-hearted challenge to curl his shot into the same top corner that Martial had found. 

Lingard has developed a habit of scoring eye-catching strikes – he scored memorable Wembley goals in both the FA Cup and League Cup finals as well as the Community Shield.

But now he is doing it on a regular basis. That is seven in his last nine appearance and 10 for the season – the first time he has hit double figures in his career. 

United created some dangerous moments before the break but could not finish off some promising moves, usually involving Pogba. Marcos Rojo had the only effort by either side on on target when he sent a tame header straight at Pickford.

It was so uneventful the biggest cheer was when Pogba lost his footing.

But Wayne Rooney received a warm reception from United’s visiting fans when he trotted over to take a corner and were in turn applauded by Everton followers.

Everton’s most dangerous moment came when Oumar Niasse was robbed by a superbly timed last-ditch tackle by Rojo just as he was about to pull the trigger. 

But United came out for the second half with more pace and intent and it soon paid off. Mata saw a shot tipped over and then another effort clip the outside of the post with Pickford beaten, while Pogba saw a shot-come-cross roll just wide of the far post.

It was no surprise when Martial gave them the lead. 

Lingard’s super strike made sure of the points to send United into the New Year in better shape as Mourinho had something to smile about for a change.