Ander Herrera Could Spend the Rest of the Season on the Bench at Man Utd

When the Manchester United team to play Cambridge United was announced at around 6:55 p.m. last Friday evening, the first feeling among the fans was one of relief—relief that Louis van Gaal had picked another strong team for an FA Cup tie against lower-league opposition. They didn't want another MK Dons debacle. 

But that feeling of relief was followed by surprise for some fans—surprise that Ander Herrera wasn't among the XI chosen to start at Abbey Stadium. It was a surprise because Van Gaal used the game to give some players a much-needed run out.

Marcos Rojo, Angel Di Maria, Adnan Januzaj, Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson haven't played much recently, and the game against Cambridge was a chance to give them some match practice. 

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But Herrera hasn't played much at all since late September. In fact, he's only started three times in the last four months. He's only completed 90 minutes three times since his £28 million move to Old Trafford from Athletic Bilbao last summer.

Yet on Friday night, he was only on the bench, coming on for Fellaini for the final 23 minutes. It left some supporters wondering what he's done wrong.

That Herrera was pursued by former manager David Moyes and signed for United before Van Gaal had been officially confirmed will always be looked on with suspicion by some fans. It makes it difficult to know whether the 25-year-old is the Dutchman's man or not.

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What's not in question is the Spanish midfielder's ability. He seems to have everything, possessing technical skill added to the energy and bite of a Jack Russell Terrier—if a Jack Russell could pass and score goals.

When everyone is fit, there is fierce competition for places at Old Trafford. It's almost impossible to fit Herrera, Di Maria, Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao into the same team. 

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Judging by the team picked to play on Friday, Fellaini is also ahead of Herrera in the pecking order, although that might have only been because the United manager was worried about the extra height of the Cambridge team. But though the Belgian looked to be on his way out in the summer, even he has started more games than Herrera this season. 

Herrera will have known what he was letting himself in for when he signed for United. You don't join a big club without realising you might have to fight for your place.

But as Van Gaal's injury list begins to shorten, Herrera's prospects don't look particularly good for the second half of the season. Van Gaal seems very fond of Carrick and Blind, and Di Maria will be a regular whenever he's fit.

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Fellaini and Mata appear to have won over their new manager, who has also played Rooney in midfield. It doesn't look good.

An FA Cup tie against Cambridge would have been the ideal opportunity for Herrera to turn Van Gaal's head, just as he did with a spectacular goal against Yeovil in the last round. But again, he was left out in the cold. 

There won't be quite as much surprise if he's back on the bench when Leicester visit Old Trafford on Saturday.