Why Juan Mata and Robin van Persie should start against Cardiff City tonight

Robin van Persie will be making a return to the Manchester United line up after a long injury lay-off.

Manchester United host Cardiff in the Premier League on Tuesday night, in a game that is set to see Juan Mata make his debut following his club record move from Chelsea. United boss David Moyes is likely to be able to welcome back a number of his key players from injury, confirming before the game that Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Marouane Fellaini have all resumed training and may be available. Here’s how they should line up to beat the Premier League’s bottom side.

Goalkeeper – David De Gea

Despite his gaffe against Sunderland last week, De Gea should keep his place in the side. The Spanish goalkeeper has averaged 2.32 saves per game this season and his 51 saves puts him fifth amongst the league’s goalkeepers.

Right-Back – Rafael

Rafael has created ten chances in ten appearances this season, three more than right-back rival Chris Smalling has managed in 15 appearances. With Mata, potentially, lining up in front of him Rafael can provide width on the right and should start ahead of Smalling.

The Chance Creation map below shows the areas from which Rafael has created his chances this season, with most coming from the right hand byline. This width would allow Moyes to start Mata in a narrower midfield than United are used to, but keep their threat from wide areas.

Rafael stats

Centre Back – Phil Jones

Whilst he cannot take a penalty to save his life, Phil Jones should start in defence in the absence of the suspended Nemanja Vidic. Whilst the former Blackburn man has been deployed in a number of positions during his time at the club, many believe Jones’s most natural position to be at the heart of defence and Vidic’s suspension should give him another chance in the role.

Phil Jones stats

Jones Defensive Actions v Villa (18) 15/12/13

Jones was a rock during his last game in central defence, against Aston Villa, winning all five of his tackles and 75% of his headers. He also made 18 defensive actions during that game and should be handed another oppurtunity to stake a claim for the centre back role tonight.

Centre Back – Jonny Evans

Evans has the highest success rate of any outfield United player across his contested duels, with 79%. He has won 70% of his attempted tackles and has also won 78% of the aerial duels that he has contested.

Jonny Evans stats

He has also averaged 11 Defensive Actions per game, the second highest at the club after Vidic. With Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in the twilight of their careers and Jones yet to decide upon his best position, Evans is currently the club’s leading centre back and should be a safe bet to start on Tuesday night.

Left-Back – Patrice Evra

Similarly to Rafael at right-back, Evra can provide width to the United attack and should start ahead of Alex Buttner. Whilst his long-term future at the club is at best uncertain, The Frenchman has been in good form this season and is a shoe in for the left-back berth. Only Wayne Rooney has created more chances than Evra for United this season. The Frenchman has created 23 chances from left-back, including three assists, and has also been his usual dependable self defensively.

Man Utd Top Chance Creators

Centre Midfield – Darren Fletcher

Fletcher has performed well alongside Carrick since his return to fitness and with Carrick injured looks a shoe in to start. In his last Premier League start, the Scot completed 93% of his passes and made three interceptions.

Centre Midfield – Marouane Fellaini

With Carrick injured, tonight provides the perfect opportunity for Fellaini to return to the side alongside Fletcher. David Moyes spent £27 million to bring Fellaini to the club for a reason and – if he is fit enough to return – then the Belgian should start tonight. It hasn’t happened for Fellaini in Manchester this season, due to a combination of his poor form, his team’s poor form and his own poor fitness.

However, in a game that already looks like it could mark the start of a new chapter in United’s season, Fellaini should return. The Belgian has a pass accuracy of 88% this season – higher than Carrick – and has won 67% of the headed duels that he has contested in his role in front of the United back four.

Attacking Midfield Right – Juan Mata

It would be a brave manager that didn’t start the club record signing for his debut and given the wave of optimism that is currently sweeping around the United fanbase, Mata should be thrown in at the deep end for his debut. Fitness should not be an issue, whilst he is already up to speed with the demands of the Premier League. Given the less than inspiring alternatives to Mata, the Spaniard should make his debut from the start on Tuesday evening.

Attacking Midfield – Wayne Rooney

Moyes confirmed this morning that Rooney, Van Persie and Fellaini all trained today. The arrival of Mata does not change the fact that United have missed Rooney severely during his injury lay off and his importance to the side means that he needs to start. The England forward has been the club’s most creative player this season and has laid on 40 chances for his teammates. Nine of these have been converted which – alongside his club high nine goals – means that he has either scored or assisted half of United’s goals this season.

Wayne Rooney Chances Created

Attacking Midfield-Left – Adnan Januzaj

Having shone in an attacking role during Van Persie and Rooney’s spells on the sidelines, it seems only fair that Januzaj should be given a chance to demonstrate his abilities in a forward line that actually resembles the attack that a club of United’s stature should have. The 18 year-old has created the second highest number of chances at the club since the start of December and, whilst the arrival of Mata should mean that he is given more of a rest, has earned his place on the left of United’s midfield.

Striker – Robin van Persie

Whilst Danny Welbeck has deputised ably during the Dutchman’s injury, he is not in the same class as Van Persie, who should start against Cardiff. His injury problems shouldn’t mask the fact that Van Persie has a healthy scoring record in games that he has played this season and the former Arsenal man’s ability in front of goal should see him restored to the starting line up. Van Persie has a conversion rate of 26.9% this season – a shade more than that of the league’s top scorer Luis Suarez (26.8%).

How Man Utd Should Line-Up vs Cardiff