A broken leg sustained against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in mid-September ended Luke Shaw's promising start to the 2015/16 campaign.
After struggling with injuries in his first year at Old Trafford, the raiding left-back had belatedly started to show just why he was brought to Manchester United in the summer of 2014.
Finally established as a regular under Louis van Gaal, Shaw produced three clean sheets, an assist and four bonus points in the first five Gameweeks.
Indeed, an average of 5.4 points per appearance was joint-top with Vincent Kompany for defenders before his season was cruelly cut short.
Having worked his way back to full fitness this summer, Shaw has been quick to impress new United manager Jose Mourinho.
The former Southampton defender has started all four of his side's summer friendlies and looks to have cemented a role in the starting XI for the season ahead.
Mourinho's arrival bodes well for a defence that served up 18 clean sheets in Van Gaal's final year at the helm. With the Old Trafford side expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system, Shaw will be allowed to roam forward from defence, working in tandem with Anthony Martial down the United left flank and offering width from deep.
Handed a price of £5.5m in Fantasy Premier League, Shaw sits in 15.8% of squads. Although the similarly priced David De Gea is owned by 41.1% by comparison, Shaw's ability to forage forward and contribute to United's attacks could offer better value than the goalkeeper.
Certainly, the 21-year-old is the most popular route into Mourinho's back four, with only six defenders claiming a higher ownership across the FPL game.
With encounters against AFC Bournemouth, Southampton, Hull City and Watford in the opening five Gameweeks, Shaw has a chance to replicate last season's impressive start and play his way into our plans.
