As Manchester United’s fixture schedule intensified, the injury list at Old Trafford really started to pile up, with Luke Shaw the latest to be ruled out for the rest of the season.

The worst of those injuries came in the extra-time win over Anderlecht last month, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to miss the rest of 2017, but it’s arguably the other man who hobbled out of that game who’ll be the bigger long-term miss.

This defender signed for United in 2014 from Sporting Lisbon but it’s fair to say that he failed to convince during his first two years in England.

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That said, Marcos Rojo has been very consistent under new manager Jose Mourinho and looks a total contrast to the player who many deemed not good enough for the club.

So, prior to suffering cruciate knee-ligament damage, what was behind the Argentina international’s impressive transformation? Let’s take a look at four big factors.

He’s playing in his position

A huge reason in the 27-year-old’s excellent form has been the fact that he’s now playing in his actual position week-in week-out.

Louis van Gaal made him deputise for Shaw for much of the 2015-16 campaign after the Englishman’s horrific leg-break, but he’s not a full-back and never has been.

Rojo has played there a fair amount for his country down the years (out of need), and though he can fill in at left-back every once in a while, he certainly shouldn’t be used by Man Utd regularly in that role.

Mental strength

As we saw at Chelsea, Mourinho isn’t afraid to criticise his own players in order to get a positive reaction, and Rojo has been slated by fans on many occasions for poor displays.

However, he’s shown character to overcome that this campaign and the “Special One” is a massive admirer of players who respond to adversity with improved performances.

There was no better proof of this than when he hugged Marouane Fellaini on the touchline after the often-maligned Belgian’s vital goal against Hull City on route to February’s EFL Cup triumph.

He just wants to defend

Arguably the biggest change in Rojo has been the improvement in his awareness and concentration. His only concern on the pitch nowadays is defending and stopping the other team from scoring.

When praising Phil Jones a few months ago, Mourinho said that he likes defenders who just want to defend and nothing else, and that sentiment can also be applied to Rojo this term.

During the Portuguese coach’s different jobs across Europe, we’ve seen proper, no-nonsense defenders such as Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe and John Terry thrive under him.

Rojo can pick out a pass but he isn’t too flashy in possession. Instead, the Argentinian has kept things simple, not taken many risks on the ball, and United look pretty solid with him in central defence.

Unlike a John Stones, he has no problem clearing it into row Z if opposition forwards close him down, which allows his teammates to get more organised and back behind the ball.

Injuries to key players

We also have to mention that Rojo initially got into the starting XI due to United’s mini-defensive injury crisis earlier this season – which turned into a full-blown one.

Chris Smalling, summer signing Eric Bailly and Shaw were all sidelined at the same time, and the team were reeling from a 4-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge back in October.

So, Jose was somewhat forced to put his faith in both Rojo and 25-year-old Englishman Jones at the heart of his back four, but neither disappointed before their respective injuries.

More to come from Rojo?

Rojo played 41 times in all competitions for United this season, and his long run in the first XI was such that he amusingly ate a banana during a Europa League tie to refuel his energy levels.

That includes 18 Premier League starts and a goal, and while he now focuses on rehabilitation, his good form under Mourinho may well have saved his immediate future at Old Trafford.

At 27, whether or not he can develop into a top-class centre-back upon his return is questionable, but Rojo definitely deserves credit for finally stepping up as a Man Utd player and producing consistently strong performances.

How much do YOU think Rojo improved for Man Utd this season? Be sure to leave YOUR opinion in the comments box below!