With the transfer window deadline looming it appears Manchester United's quest to find a world-class striker looks futile.
While United may have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, their form in front of goal has so far been far from successful.
Prior
to Wednesday's night 4-0 win at Club Bruges, in the return leg of their
Champions League play-off, the Red Devils had only managed to muster
five goals in their previous four games - with three of those coming in
their first encounter against the Belgian outfit.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal (centre) has said he intends to use Marouane Fellaini as a striker
Speaking
ahead of their win in Belgium, United manager Louis van Gaal revealed
he intends to use Marouane Fellaini as a striker this season.
'He
[Fellaini] can play in a nine position and a 10,' Van Gaal said. 'He
can also play at six and eight, but this year he shall play more at nine
and 10 because there we have other players.'
Fellaini's
height and strength make him ideal for the role of lone frontman, but
he only scored seven goals last season - half the total of top scorer
Wayne Rooney.
The
remodelling of the 27-year-old midfielder as a striker wouldn't be the
first positional change Van Gaal has enforced on to a player since
taking over the Red Devils hotseat.
Here Sportsmail looks at how those in the Dutchman's squad have fared being given a new role within his team.
A natural midfielder, Fellaini's (centre) height and strength also make him ideal for the role of lone frontman
The 27-year-old scored United's third in their 3-1 Champions League first leg play-off win against Club Bruges
Fellaini wheels away in celebration after scoring a late goal to extend United's first leg lead earlier this month
WAYNE ROONEY
United's
stellar striker was shifted into a central midfield role last season
out of necessity. Injuries to the likes of Daley Blind and Michael
Carrick exposed United's lack of quality in that position - something
Van Gaal addressed this summer by signing
Morgan Schneiderlin and
Bastian Schweinsteiger. Rooney's vision and determination saw him able
to perform this role to some effect last season - but it was only ever a
stop-gap solution. Now back up front, the 29-year-old demonstrated his
finishing prowess by netting a hat-trick on Wednesday at Club Bruges.
Wayne Rooney (right) scored a hat-trick during Manchester United's win at Club Bruges on Wednesday night
DALEY BLIND
Van
Gaal's utility man, Blind operated last season at left back and centre
midfield. While the former is his natural position, the Holland
international was United's anchor in midfield while Carrick dealt with
his injury problems. This campaign Van Gaal has used him in a central
defensive partnership with Chris Smalling to magnificent effect - having
conceding just one goal in five matches so far. With Marcos Rojo and
Phil Jones nearing a return to first-team action - the pair will have a
job on their hands to displace Blind from his uncoventional position.
Daley Blind (left) has excelled in central defence for United this season in partnership with Chris Smalling
ASHLEY YOUNG
At
the start of Van Gaal's tenure last summer, Ashley Young was one member
of the United squad who's future at Old Trafford appeared to be over.
Having implemented a 3-5-2 formation, Van Gaal deployed him as a wing
back for their opening day 2-1 home defeat by Swansea in the previous
campaign - with the England international positionally caught out for
Gylfi Sigurdsson's second-half winner. However, the 30-year-old winger
grew into this role - impressing his detractors along the way before Van
Gaal opted for 4-3-3.
Ashley Young (centre) had a match to forget for United in their league opener against Swansea last season
ANTONIO VALENCIA
A
conventional winger, Valencia was used at right back from time-to-time
during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign whenever one of his first-choice
defenders were injured. However, with Van Gaal dissatisfied with
Rafael's displays in defence last season the Ecuadorian quickly cemented
this position as his own. The 30-year-old's attacking abilities gave
United an extra dimension when he would overlap Juan Mata - but at times
his defence skills were questioned. Old Trafford supporters will
remember his error that led to Danny Welbeck's winner for Arsenal in
their FA Cup quarter-final as an example.
Antonio Valencia's (right) abilities going forward gives United an extra attacking outlet during games
However, the Ecuadorian was at fault for Arsenal's winning goal at United in their FA Cup tie last season
JUAN MATA
Van
Gaal's 3-5-2 formation at the start of his first campaign in charge
looked tailor-made for Mata. Shifted out wide by David Moyes, the
Spaniard was now given the chance to play centrally behind two strikers -
a role that he craves. However, as United's frailities with this setup
became evident Van Gaal was forced to change his formation with 4-3-3
becoming the prevalent theme. This change of tack saw Mata forced out to
the wing again, with his lack of pace for this role exposed. However,
his qualities elsewhere make up for that and his magnificent brace at
Liverpool last season highlights that he can still perform out wide too.
Despite being forced to play as a winger - Juan Mata is still an integral part of United's play in this formation
This was emphasised last season with the Spaniard's magainficent double at Liverpool as United won 2-1
ADNAN JANUZAJ
Having
burst on to the scene as a winger, the young Belgian has been deployed
centrally by Van Gaal this season - in a role that many would assume is
ideal for Mata. Van Gaal believes Januzaj's future lies in this role and
in his first start of the season at Aston Villa he delivered with the
only goal of the game. Although only 20-years-old, the jury is still out
on United's No 11 suitability with his new role - with his natural
assets seemingly better for a position out wide in midfield.
Adnan Januzaj (left) scored United's winner in their 1-0 victory at Aston Villa earlier this month
MEMPHIS DEPAY
Another
like Januzaj, who Van Gaal believes can play centrally. Having netted
22 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie, Van Gaal used Depay in a role behind
lone striker Rooney throughout pre-season and their Premier League
opener against Tottenham. Since then though, the 21-year-old has played
on the left of an attacking midfield three - giving him more space to
run into and cause havoc among opposition defences. Reverting Depay back
to this role has worked to United's benefit with his double in the
first leg against Club Bruges and his assist for Rooney in the return
leg proving evident.
Memphis Depay (right) looks more at ease for United since moving from a central position to out wide
AND NOT FORGETTING.... BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER
A
player who hasn't seen his role change under Van Gaal at United, but
someone who owes the Dutchman a lot. During their time together at
Bayern Munich, it was Van Gaal who moved Schweinsteiger from a wide
midfield position to a central one in order for him fulfill his
potential. The 31-year-old subsequently won everything with Bayern in
that role and the World Cup last year with Germany. Now reunited at
United,
Schweinsteiger's midfield qualities has significantly
strengthened United's options in this area.
Van Gaal (right) changed Bastian Schweinsteiger (centre) into a centre midfielder at Bayern Munich
The Germany international (right) has excelled ever since and will hope to replicate his success at United
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SOCCER