Herrera hopes to help kickstart Manchester United’s season

Ander Herrera has been on the outside looking in this season but after his goal scoring exploits for Manchester United against Northampton last night, the midfielder is hoping for an upturn in fortune.

Manchester United’s midfield pairing of Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba have been heavily criticised during defeats against Manchester City, Watford and Feyenoord this month.

There has been a clamour for Herrera and Michael Carrick to be given game-time in the Premier League and both did their chances of starting this weekend’s fixture against Leicester no harm at all.

Like Herrera, Carrick scored for Manchester United during their 3-1 win against Northampton in the EFL Cup at Sixfields.

But rather than just concentrating on personal ambitions for the season ahead, Herrera insists a win against the Cobblers was the perfect tonic for an upturn in form and results at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard said: “I know my role and I know I am a midfielder, but when you want to make steps in your development then you have to score goals.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“I tried to do that and I shot before but the post didn’t allow me to score. Finally I scored and I am happy, but overall after a terrible week we got the victory and now we can face Leicester in a better way.

“We had a terrible week and we want to be positive. Now we have to face Leicester at home and after this victory we feel good.

“We are more positive and more optimistic. We want to be at the top of the table and we have to win; we are Man United.

“Of course we are playing against the last Premier League winners, the champions, so we have to respect them but we have to try to win.”