Robin Van Persie Return Hands Louis Van Gaal Selection Dilemma at Manchester Utd

Louis van Gaal confirmed to MUTV that Robin van Persie was available for selection for Manchester United when they travel to Wales to face Swansea on Saturday.

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Louis van Gaal tells #MUTV that Robin van Persie and Phil Jones are fit for tomorrow's match at Swansea. #mufc

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 20, 2015"

On its face, this is good news for United. After all, Van Persie is the Red Devils' top goalscorer so far this season. He has enjoyed patches of fine form during which he has looked a crucial member of Van Gaal's side.

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.@Persie_Official is the first #mufc player to hit double figures this season... pic.twitter.com/KZK32PiKrD

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 15, 2015

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However, he has struggled in recent weeks. A run of five goals in six games in November and December has been followed by a run of just two in the past eight games. He has looked laboured, and he and Radamel Falcao have looked considerably less than the sum of their parts when they have played alongside one another.

Van Persie's availability should not guarantee him a starting berth. While it usually has, the current circumstances may require the Dutchman to take one for the team, in the interest of a better collective performance.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Wayne Rooney's role as a central midfielder has been at best a qualified success. His penalty against Preston North End was well-taken, but it was his first goal of 2015. He still has not provided an assist.

While Rooney has been struggling in the middle of the park, many fans have been calling for the inclusion of Ander Herrera in the starting line-up. The collective goodwill for Herrera was amply demonstrated when he came on as a substitute against Burnley and received an enormous cheer.

The decision to prefer Rooney to Herrera in midfield has seemed even odder in the face of Van Persie and Falcao's poor form. Dropping one of Falcao or Van Persie and replacing whoever is dropped with Rooney up front would allow Herrera to perform his natural function in midfield. It would be one fewer square peg in a round hole for United.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Had Van Persie been out through injury, this would have been an easier call for Van Gaal.

Based on the past few weeks, it is clear that either Falcao or Van Persie should miss out on this game, unless Van Gaal is absolutely convinced that their partnership can become more functional.

Both look like they would be more comfortable as a solo centre-forward, and neither's form has been good enough to warrant that position ahead of Rooney.

Rooney's performances as both a No. 10 and No. 9 for United have always suffered from inconsistency, but his capacity for selflessness and experience in playing a supporting role make him a more natural partner for one of Van Persie or Falcao should Van Gaal want to persist with a front two.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Falcao looked surprised to be replaced by Ashley Young during United's game against Preston on Monday—or at least uncertain if the board was indeed indicating that he should come off the field.

It should not have come as much of a shock, as in spite of facing League One opposition, he had been able to make almost no impact on the game. His first touch was woeful, with the ball appearing to bounce off him whenever he received it with his back to goal.

Dropping one or both of Van Persie and Falcao is not as easy a decision as it may appear on paper. After all, strikers rely on confidence, and the team may benefit more in the long run from their playing back into form than it would from dropping them.

Having said that, the evidence of the season so far would strongly suggest that playing them as a front two is an experiment which has failed. With all three of Van Persie, Falcao and Rooney available, Van Gaal has a big decision to make.