With Wayne Rooney missing for Manchester United’s October fixtures this is surely the time for Juan Mata to prove, once and for all, that he is worthy of a place in the starting 11.
Has only been at Manchester United for nine months, since winning back to back Player of The Year awards at Chelsea, but there has been regular speculation that he will leave the club having become a peripheral member in Louis van Gaal’s squad of late.
He’s a wonderful guy and a really good footballer but he only seems capable of playing in the number 10 position which Wayne Rooney appears to have made his own over the last month.
If he plays out of his skin in Rooney’s absence, however, Mata may still find a place in the hole with Wazza playing up top or on the right of the diamond.
Mata scores goals on a regular basis but he doesn’t have the physical presence or general impact on proceedings that Rooney does. He’s a butterfly to Rooney’s bull.
Unlike the Englishman Mata tends to flit in and out of games and Manchester United certainly haven’t seen his best form yet.
With The Champions League hopefully beckoning again next season Manchester United will need a really deep squad and if Mata can survive until then he may find his career at United assured.
But he needs to work hard and make a real impact over the next three games because otherwise his chances could be few and far between this season.
Manchester United fans – Would Mata find a place in your strongest Manchester United XI when everyone is fit?
