Ander Herrera as a straight swap and other ways Man United can plug the gap left by Paul Pogba

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  • Just as Paul Pogba was beginning to justify his price tag, injury struck – but don’t feel too sorry for Manchester United, they are not hamstrung in the slightest.

    A team of that talent and depth has an abundance of options to fall back on. Indeed the man who replaced Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, scored the opener against Basel in a typically robust display.

    So how should United line up without their conductor-in-chief? Below we outline three options that Jose Mourinho should seriously consider.

    DIRECT SWAP WITH HERRERA

    What may seem like the most obvious alternative may not be staring Jose Mourinho in the face as far as he is concerned.

    Ander Herrera did not even make the matchday squad for the game against Basel, despite having just played 77 minutes of competitive football this season so far.

    A player who was a firm fan favourite last season has been shoved to one side by the arrival of Nemanja Matic – but the Spaniard has reason for fresh hope.

    If anyone in the United squad resembles Pogba’s style of play it is Herrera, who is as bubbly as a shaken-up fizzy drink.

    Herrera is not the most disciplined of midfielders but just as Matic has freed up Pogba, so too can he take much of the defensive responsibility off his replacement.

    Though it is unfair expect the same raking passes or blink-and-you’ll-miss-him counter-attacking, plugging in Herrera for Pogba would cause the least disruption to a winning team.

    Man United midfielder Ander Herrera

    Man United midfielder Ander Herrera

    DROP MKHITARYAN BACK

    Matic’s presence really is a tactical game-changer for United. Where once United’s midfield was in a state of flux, the Serbian is the sinew that keeps it all together.

    Which is why if Mourinho wants to keep that devastating quickness through the middle intact, he should take a good look at dropping Henrikh Mkhitaryan back into midfield.

    The Armenian makes more than his fair share of head-scratching decisions and losing the ball anywhere near the centre circle would be anathema to Mourinho.

    But – against weaker teams in particular – imagine Mkhitaryan driving into the final third with Marcus Rashford to one side and Anthony Martial on the other.

    A 4-3-3 could work, with Mkhitaryan being the central tip of that trident along with Matic and Herrera/Michael Carrick/Fellaini.

    It would be exciting just to see Rashford and Martial play together instead of the personal relay team they have been running between the bench and the field.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action against Basel

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action against Basel

    THE FELLAINI FACTOR

    Mourinho could instead elect to change United’s style of play and push Fellaini far up the field just behind Romelu Lukaku.

    Playing Fellaini deeper in midfield may work against some European teams as the tempo tends to be a touch slower in contrast to the high-octane Premier League.

    Where Pogba is also aerodynamics, Fellaini is as agile as heavy machinery. As Steven Gerrard put it, ‘in the middle of the pitch, he never used to hurt you or harm you, you’d play against him all day’.

    Closer to the box, however, and Gerrard admitted it was a different story. Fellaini will never play an eye-of-the-needle pass but he has plenty of needle – ie. elbows – to bother the most seasoned of defenders.

    Combine Fellaini and Lukaku, and the box will be a no fly zone for most opposing centre-backs. Keep lumping in the crosses and Mourinho will finally have succeeded where

    David Moyes’ aerial bombardment, with 5ft11 Wayne Rooney leading the line, could not.

    Playing that way would open United up to all sorts of criticism but Mourinho has already professed his love for Fellaini. It wouldn’t be pretty, but most weapons are ugly after all.

    Marouane Fellaini heads the opening goal against Basel

    Marouane Fellaini heads the opening goal against Basel

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