Radamel Falcao Is Under Most Pressure for Manchester United After Preston Game

When the substitutes board went up in the 60th minute of Manchester United's FA Cup tie with Preston on Monday night, it took a moment for Radamel Falcao to realise it was his number.

He squinted toward the touchline like he couldn't quite believe it. But it shouldn't have come as a surprise. There have been flashes of the player he was at Porto and Atletico Madrid since he arrived at Old Trafford from Monaco in the summer.

But, for the most part, he's struggled. Against Preston he was particularly poor. There was plenty of endeavour, as there always is. 

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But there wasn't much else, and Louis van Gaal would have been well within his rights to take him off at half-time. In the end, the Colombian striker only lasted another 15 minutes.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to see Falcao staying at United beyond the end of the season. He is popular among the fans, who sing his "Lo, Lo, Lo, Lo, Lo" song whenever they get the chance.

But the harsh reality is that his performances, so far, haven't been those of a £45 million striker. There are only three months left of the season, and the 29-year-old is under mounting pressure to prove he's worth a permanent deal in the summer.

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He can't say he's not been given a chance to impress. He's started 11 of the last 13 games but has scored just three times. In 16 appearances for United this season, he's scored four goals. It's not the form of a £40 million striker.

He has, though, reason to feel frustrated. After he trudged off at Deepdale, United, playing with wingers on either side, began to look dangerous and create chances; chances Falcao had been starved of in the first half. There was an irony in him having to be taken off to make room for the system that might have benefitted him.

It doesn't suit Falcao to play alongside Robin van Persie, both being penalty area poachers who don't like stretching defences by running into the channels. Yet in 11 of Falcao's 14 starts this season, he's been paired with the Dutchman.

Falcao doesn't possess great pace and is at his best when he's surrounded by players who do. That's not Van Persie.

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Falcao is running out of time if he hopes to stay at Old Trafford. It might even be too late. Van Gaal might well have decided already that he will need to look elsewhere for a striker in the summer.

It will take an impressive run of form between now and the end of the season for Falcao to guarantee a place at United next season. He was always going to be judged on goals, and he hasn't scored enough.

The game against League One Preston will go down as another missed opportunity. And he can't afford too many more.