Why Has Rafael Da Silva Become a Peripheral Figure at Manchester United?

It barely warranted a mention when Rafael da Silva, the only recognised right-back at Manchester United, was left out of Louis van Gaal's squad to face West Ham United last weekend. In what has become one of the most curious stories of the season, the Brazilian has played in just 10 of a possible 28 games.

That six of those matches came in September and October highlights how little football he has played in recent months even though injuries have contributed to such a low total.

Yet the reasons for Rafael's lack of playing time remain unclear. Only in conceding a dubious penalty against Leicester City has he made a considerable mistake this season, and Antonio Valencia has hardly been in a vein of form to justify keeping him out of the team.

Having established himself as the first-choice right-back under Sir Alex Ferguson and then David Moyes, he appears to have fallen behind Valencia and perhaps even Paddy McNair in the pecking order.

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After returning home from United's pre-season tour of the United States early with an injury, Rafael made his first start of the season against Queens Park Rangers. At a time when United were experimenting with new players and a new formation, there was a sense of familiarity with the Brazilian in the team.

He was Man of the Match a few weeks later in United's win at home against West Ham, surging forward in the first half to guide a cross into Wayne Rooney's path to make it 1-0.

Rafael's performances in those autumn months hinted that he was close to recapturing the form that saw him impress in 2012/13, but a groin injury then caused him to miss eight consecutive games.

He returned to play a combined 117 minutes of football in games against Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City and Yeovil Town before a fractured cheekbone required him to undergo surgery. He hasn't featured in United's four games since then but has made two outings for the club's U21 side.

In the second of those appearances, Rafael played against Chelsea's U21 side a day after United's draw away to West Ham. He looked a little rusty and made some errors, but it was his excellent, mazy run that led to United's opening goal.

Throughout the game, he showed the type of creativity that Valencia has failed to provide from right-back in recent weeks for the senior side. If Van Gaal was watching, he would surely have been impressed by the attacking threat Rafael posed against one of the stronger U21 sides in the country.

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Playing Valencia over Rafael is, in a way, symbolic of Van Gaal's tenure at United so far. Instead of opting for the adventurous, attack-minded Brazilian, the Dutchman has settled for the cautious and conservative Ecuadorian.

It's a judgment that's hard to understand. The same unpredictability and spontaneity that can sometimes lead Rafael to make rash decisions is also what makes him exciting as an attacking force. Rather than being worried or concerned about what he might do in defence, Van Gaal must harness those same qualities at the other end of the pitch.

Besides, the way he developed and matured during Ferguson's final few seasons illustrated he has the talent to become a top-class full-back. Still just 24 years old, it's seemingly his record with injuries as opposed to his performances that will stop him from realising that potential.

Either way, it's strange how he has become a peripheral figure at United this season.

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