Van Persie Injury Would Be a Blow for Man Utd, Who Need Him Now More Than Ever

There's something uncomfortable about watching a once great sportsman struggle on when they're past their best. It doesn't feel right knowing, deep down, they can no longer do the things they once could.

It's the feeling the Manchester United fans might have had as Robin van Persie toiled away against Swansea City on Saturday. For whatever reason, things just aren't going his way this season.

At 31 years old, it's understandable. Mind and body begin to slow, just a fraction, towards the end of a career. And in the Premier League, that can make all the difference.

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Van Persie was poor at the Liberty Stadium. There was a moment in the second half when a cross from the left bobbled off Wayne Rooney and fell into his path. 

The Van Persie of his final two years at Arsenal, or his first at Old Trafford, would have guided it effortlessly into the far corner. This time, though, the chance was scuffed into the side-netting.

It was the effort of a striker who's short of confidence. In total against Swansea, he had seven shots but only one tested Lukasz Fabianski. He's still managed to score 10 goals in 25 games this season. But most United fans will tell you he hasn't looked himself.

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He still has a year left on his contract after this season. Some supporters have been so shocked at his decline they'll tell you it's not worth renewing. 

By then he'll be nearly 33, and he might have reached the point when he's no longer useful to a team with designs on the Premier League title.

But it's not time to dump him just yet. He left Swansea at the weekend in a protective boot after suffering a knock to his right ankle. As underwhelming as he's been this season, a long injury lay-off would still be a blow to Louis van Gaal.

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The United manager needs his big players now more than ever. Defeat at Swansea has left the bid for a top-four finish looking precarious. 

Only four points separate Arsenal in third and Tottenham Hotspur in seventh. And with 12 games to go, it's Arsenal, Southampton, Liverpool and Tottenham who are the form teams. On top of that, United face Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in their final 10 games.

The run-in is going to be more fraught than Van Gaal had hoped. And Van Persie has got a big part to play. With Radamel Falcao struggling for form, Rooney spending most of his time in midfield and James Wilson still very inexperienced, United need him to start scoring again. And quickly.

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Despite all the criticism, United still have one of the best defensive records in the league. But they haven't scored enough goals. They only had three shots on target at Swansea, despite having nearly 65 per cent possession.

United fans might never again see the Van Persie who was outstanding in his first season at Old Trafford. His days of 30-plus goals a season might be over. But Van Gaal will need to see at least a flicker of that player if he's going to lead the club back into the Champions League. They need him now more than ever.