Manchester United's Wayne Rooney vital against Aston Villa

Wayne Rooney

Having lost their last two games at Old Trafford, Manchester United may actually be feeling a bit less pressure knowing they have to go out on the road for their next two games, where they’re undefeated in 17 of their last 19. At the same time, trips to Villa Park and Britannia Stadium are always tough, meaning that there will be little margin for error, especially for a United side that is struggling.

United usually have no problems seeing off Aston Villa, having done so in their last five meetings, but given recent results, David Moyes will take nothing for granted. Villa are a very aggressive side, particularly in front of their own fans. Saying that, United won’t have a moment’s peace on the ball, as Paul Lambert will no doubt tell his players to close down their opponents and take no prisoners. They’ve committed the second-highest proportion of fouls in the league (197) behind, coincidentally, United’s next opponents Stoke City (202).

PL Fouls Committed Ranking 2013/14

It means then that United will need to be effective in their use of the ball, as Villa will constantly be breaking up their play. Moyes bemoaned a lack of creativity in the last game at home to Newcastle United, which Wayne Rooney missed through suspension. He said the Englishman would receive a boost as a result of that break. No doubt, having him fresh for this important fixture would prove beneficial, especially when one considers that he has been United’s best creator this season, setting up 28 chances for his team-mates–an average of 2.2 per game–claiming five assists in so doing, which is the league’s joint second-best tally.

Numbers aside, Rooney is easily United’s most consistently incisive player on the ball, as he is always looking up in order to play a forward pass to release a team-mate in on goal. The club’s central midfield, Michael Carrick aside, is noted for its lack of creativity, while Shinji Kagawa, though he has been seeing more action of late, has hardly proven a playmaker on the ball, choosing to play sideways and backwards passes rather than attempt killer through balls in behind the defence. In his six appearances to date, he has set up only four chances, which is an average of less than one per game. The wingers, meanwhile, continue to be inconsistent.

With Robin van Persie back fit, Moyes has the benefit of selecting his first-choice front two again. It would mean that Kagawa would be shunted back out to the left, but he hadn’t done himself any favours when given his chance in his favoured role in the centre. Rooney has been in fine form this season playing there, and will no doubt relish rekindling his partnership with the Dutchman. Heading to a difficult place like Villa Park in the form United are in, that partnership will prove key to the Red Devils’ chances of walking away from there with a much-needed three points in hand.