to appreciate Herrera was an essential cog in the United machine and while he insisted the Basque merely had to 'improve' to start more than one Premier League match in four months, some at Carrington were unconvinced by Herrera.

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Herrera proved them wrong and his promotion to the United first-team coincided with their improvement in the spring. Herrera was the first United midfielder to dominate Liverpool, physically and skilfully, at Anfield since Roy Keane, was the best player on the pitch in the derby win over City and finished the season with eight goals in 22 starts.

The 25-year-old's omission from the starting line-up against Club America is not cause for concern. Van Gaal started two different XIs in each half and fitness was primary, especially ona pitch that was desecrated by One Dimension (sic.).

Herrera is not a one-dimensional player and should Van Gaal retain the 4-2-3-1 formation long-term, as some have indicated, Herrera would be inhibited. Van Gaal played him beside Bastian Schweinsteiger in the second-half in Seattle and while Schweinsteiger's discipline allowed Herrera to attack, he is superior in an advanced role.

This was patent at Chelsea in April, where United were deprived of Michael Carrick. Herrera started at the base of United's midfield instead of Rooney, where he was wasted, and his failure to switch to a cautious mindset contributed to Eden Hazard's breakaway winner.

Herrera looked uncomfortable passing laterally. His instinct is to pass the ball forwards, rather than mimic Ray Wilkins, and his deployment there against West Brom two weeks later