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Why Ander Herrera must start for Manchester United

The Spaniard has made only two starts for Jose Mourinho this season.

AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United - Premier League Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

It’s been a tough week for Manchester United, suffering three defeats, and the players are not performing well. But there is one individual who gives his best whether it’s from the start or off the bench: Ander Herrera.

The Spaniard has found it difficult to start for the Red Devils on a weekly basis, despite being at Old Trafford since 2014. Many feel he was wrongly treated under Louis Van Gaal. Herrera had an impressive first season at the club, netting on six occasions and creating four goals, although he started only 19 league games.

Before his arrival at the club, Manchester United lacked a creative central midfielder and many fans felt like Herrera could be the solution to their problem. Halfway through the 2014-15 season, Van Gaal shockingly claimed the side was missing a creative midfielder, whilst Herrera was left to suffer on the bench.

Herrera will surely be one of the many players that will want to forget the minimal chances they received from Van Gaal, and will be confident of being given more starting opportunities with Jose Mourinho as the manager of the club.

"Working with Mourinho is a unique opportunity to work with one of the best in the world," Herrera said to La Ser, a radio station in Spain.

With Mourinho struggling to find a consistent line-up, Herrera has a big chance to prove why he deserves to be a regular starter, and he is likely to start in the EFL cup match against Northampton Town tonight. Herrera was fantastic in United’s first game of the season, in a 3-1 win against Bournemouth, and will still be wondering why he was subsequently dropped.

Many fans have complained over social media about the fact that Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini are starting in midfield, which has made the team’s movement and passing very slow and predictable. Bringing Herrera into the midfield is a must, utilising his ability to increase the tempo of the play as well as having the right strengths to be the side’s box to box player.

Keeping in mind that Mourinho is a fan of the 4-3-3 setup, Herrera, alongside Pogba and either Michael Carrick or Morgan Schneiderlin, would provide the perfect balance in midfield, which currently eludes the side.