Angel Di Maria Cameo Against Yeovil Shows His Worth to Manchester United

If you were wondering how important Angel Di Maria is to Manchester United, then he gave a pretty good example against Yeovil Town on Sunday afternoon.

With United struggling to break down the League One side, Louis van Gaal introduced the Argentinian winger in the 60th minute. Half an hour later, they were in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Di Maria sealing the 2-0 win with a goal in the final minute.

There's a danger that we might come to think of Di Maria as just one of United's big names. But he's more than that. He's the star in a star-studded squad.

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He got off the team bus at Huish Park wearing the face of a man who had found himself on another planet. But that didn't stop him from turning the game in United's favour once he replaced Radamel Falcao.

Up until his introduction, they had been limp and turgid. Van Gaal usually measures the quality of a performance by how many chances his team have created. That United managed one shot on target in the first half against a team bottom of the third tier told its own story.

But almost as soon as Di Maria strode out on to the pitch in the second half, there was more urgency. His pace scares even the most organised of defences, whether he's running toward or away from them. He will create panic in teams a lot better than Yeovil this season.

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His goal, racing clear in stoppage time to beat Jed Steer, owed everything to his wonderful ability. His run was timed well, his speed electric and his finish cool and calm. Any doubt about the result ended almost as soon as Wayne Rooney's pass reached his feet.

The win extended United's unbeaten run to 11. Di Maria has missed most of it with hamstring and hip injuries. But they have still missed him.

His pace, running, touch and eye for a goal make him United's most fearsome attacking weapon. And that's saying something when he plays in the same team as Robin van Persie, Juan Mata, Rooney and Falcao.

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There's even an argument that he's the player Van Gaal should build his team around, that he should find a system to get the best out of him and fit everyone else in around. He's that good.

Van Gaal's immediate concern, however, will be keeping the 26-year-old fit and motivated. Available and at his best for the rest of the season, you can see United mounting a title challenge to worry Manchester City and Chelsea. Without him, they don't look like such a force.

Di Maria might not have really known what he was doing in Somerset at the 5,000-capacity Huish Park on a Sunday afternoon in January. Days like this probably weren't mentioned when he was sealing his British record transfer in the summer.

But his performance against Yeovil, however brief, showed just why United paid all that money. He's still the standout player in a collection of stars.