Radamel Falcao Running out of Time to Meet Louis Van Gaal's Challenge at Man Utd

If Radamel Falcao was hoping for a few words of comfort from Louis van Gaal about his situation at Manchester United, he'll have been disappointed.

If the Colombian striker happened to catch any of the Dutchman's press conference on Friday, he won't have been particularly encouraged by what he heard.

Five days after Falcao was axed from the squad to play Southampton at Old Trafford, Van Gaal insisted the 28-year-old must "prove himself" if he hopes to earn a permanent deal. But that's looking increasingly unlikely. 

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Van Gaal was given the opportunity to be enthusiastic about Falcao's qualities at Carrington on Friday. He might need him against QPR at Loftus Road on Saturday with doubts about Robin van Persie's fitness. 

But the United manager declined, choosing instead, in quotes carried by the Manchester Evening News, to talk about Falcao like he was a teenager trying to break into the first team.

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If a player costs £95 million or £5,000 it doesn't make any difference. You have to prove yourself. I have spoken to him but I always speak with the players, I am a good communicator, so that is not a big exception.

But of course he was not in the squad, so then you talk more with this kind of player because for them it is a big disappointment. I wanted to explain what he has to do in the future and that I have done.

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Falcao, though, is running out of time. He's scored three goals in 11 games in an injury-hit first five months at United. And now he's got 17 games, maybe a few more if United continue in the FA Cup, to meet Van Gaal's challenge. It's not that many.

It's not only that Falcao has to show he can stay fit. Or that he's capable of scoring goals in the Premier League. It's that he's got to prove he's worth the £43.2 million Monaco want to turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer. It's a lot of money, even for United, and he's only got a few months.

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The Falcao who played for Porto and Atletico Madrid would have no problem proving himself to Van Gaal. But the United fans are yet to see that player so far this season. 

He's getting sharper with each game, but he's still recovering from a serious knee injury. And that takes time. Unfortunately for Falcao, that's the one thing he hasn't got.

Van Gaal has already shown himself to be a ruthless decision-maker. If he can cut loose Danny Welbeck in the summer, he can certainly do the same to Falcao.

He's been challenged to prove himself by the United manager, with a long-term deal at Old Trafford the prize. But he's running out of time.