The 27-year old had been snubbed for quite some time by Spain's coaches,but Julen Lopetegui's knowledge of his skills earned him a spot with La Roja.

Ander Herrera's performance with Manchester United this season has earned him a special place in Jose Mourinho's lineup, and also granted him a spot in the Spanish National Team for the first time.

The former Zaragoza midfielder, who arrived to Old Trafford thanks to Louis Van Gaal, is quickly becoming a driving force for the Red Devils, helping Paul Pogba's attempts to shine, while making himself one of the most influential players on the pitch. 

The club even recognized his efforts by nominating him for the Player of the Month award.

But just how decisive has Herrera become for the team?

Herrera has started five games for Mourinho's team in all competitions, scoring only one goal. Nevertheless, his passing rate is quite impressive, considering that most of his passes are intended to hurt the enemy.

The Spaniard's 87% passing rate is among the highest in the EPL, with 69% of those passes headed to the upper side of the pitch. Furthermore, he's been able to display his defensive abilites by winning almost half of his one-on-one duels with his opponents.

No, Herrera's stats may not be as impressive to the average football fan, but they surely seduced Julen Lopetegui and earned him his first call up with La Roja.

 

Match details, result and original broadcast info

Italy 1 - 1 Spain

October 6, 2016 2:45pmAllianz Stadium (Torino)

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Albania 0 - 2 Spain

October 9, 2016 2:45pmStadiumi Loro Boriçi (Shkodër)

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