Paul Pogba’s rumbustious displays since the turn of the year have further enamored the young Frenchman to the watching world.

At the heart of a Juventus midfield bristling with immense quality, the young Frenchman has shone brightest for the Bianconeri as of late. His endearing patent for bossing games with a marriage of panache and physicality is incomparable in the soccer stratosphere, and if he isn’t already, the tools are there for Pogba to go on and become the very best midfield player in the world.

But since the turn of the year, the 21-year-old sensation has showcased facets to his make-up that point towards potential greatness-in-waitin; intangible fillips that compliment his vast array of fundamental skills.

It’s a burgeoning mental strength and it was on show from Pogba once again as he netted a magnificent winner while his side toiled against a diligent Sassuolo outfit. In many respects, this instinctive intuition of being in the right place at the right time is just as important as the highlight reel Pogba has assembled since trading Manchester for Turin.

Since Serie A got back underway following the festive hiatus, Pogba has helped himself to five goals and two assists in all competitions. That in itself may not be a striking statistic, but in domestic matches against Napoli, Verona, Chievo and most recently Sassuolo, the Frenchman has scored the opening goal of each encounter.

His assist was an imperative one too, laying on Alvaro Morata to give the Bianconeri a crucial lead in their UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. Earlier in the season, he also bagged the winner in a hugely important win in the group stages of the same tournament against Olympiakos.

For a player still in the relative infancy of his career in amongst a team of thoroughbred champions, to be willing to shoulder that sizeable responsibility and flourish in spite of that pressure is mightily impressive.

It’s also worth noting that in a lot of these games, Pogba hasn’t really performed to his best either. Of course, the expansive, aesthetic nature of his play means social media timelines are littered with six-second clips of thunderous strikes or insouciant segments of skill in the aftermath of a Juventus game, but like any 21-year-old player, the Frenchman still has plenty to learn.

And yet, amidst a flurry of hyperbole he’s still making timely positive interventions for this Bianconeri side. While Pogba can continue to make further refinements and additions to what is already a vast footballing skill-set, conjuring moments of magic at important times for your team is an inherent, unlearned quality for a lot of players.

It’s what sets the elite apart from the very good in a lot of cases. Great players can become shrinking violets in the heat of a pressure game, but as was evident at the previous World Cup—a tournament in which Pogba was named the finest young player—the big stage doesn’t intimidate to the Juventus man.

Naturally, these qualities have prompted potential rumours of a move away from Turin at the end of the season, with a clutch of European football royalty reportedly interested in taking the Frenchman off Juve’s hands. And while a move to a team like Real Madrid or Barcelona has proven too much to handle for some of the finest footballers on the planet, Pogba seems to have the requisite state of mind not only to handle the trained spotlight, but blossom before it.

There remains much for this enthralling young talent to learn yet, however. He remains something of a streaky midfielder, who rides the crest of a momentous wave when confident, but when things aren’t going to plan, can appear a little disinterested and ponderous.

But settled in Turin, alongside classy midfielders like Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal as well as established champions like Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, remains the best environment for him to iron out those creases.

Pogba’s dynamism, poise and on-pitch intelligence have been indicative of a player who has the potential to go on an become one of the most revered of his generation. But these impactful contributions at precarious times for his team show in earnest that has he has the strength to handle the expectations that will naturally accompany him.

He still has a long way to go to reach the stratospheric heights he is undeniably capable of reaching, but this willingness to seize the initiative for his team illustrates in earnest that Pogba is already well on his way there.

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball