I do not know if Louis van Gaal has had a cat since he arrived in Manchester, but if he has there is a decent chance Ander Herrera may have inadvertently run over it.

Or maybe the once-again anonymous Spaniard put two lumps of sugar in his boss's coffee rather than one in the Carrington canteen.

Whatever the reason, Herrera finds himself out in the cold at Old Trafford - and after Saturday's uninspiring goalless draw with Newcastle United fans are asking why.

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is currently being overlooked by manager Louis van Gaal

Ryan Giggs (centre) and a van Gaal trudge off the Old Trafford pitch following Saturday's draw with Newcastle

Herrera (bottom left) cuts a frustrated figure sat on the Manchester United bench on Saturday

That laboured performance, against a Toon side who had lost their last seven away matches (conceding 18 goals in the process) and looked for a draw from the moment they stepped off the bus, was lacking in many things.

Some of those - a world class striker to share the workload with Wayne Rooney for example - will cost a lot of money and persuasion.

But when it comes to tempo and creativity, many believe Van Gaal had the answer sat on his bench.

Herrera provides both. Energetic and with a keen eye for a defence-splitting pass, United fans know all about his qualities.

They suffered similar frustration last season when a one-paced side plodded along winning matches but few friends.

Despite having spent £28.8m on the former Athletic Bilbao man, Van Gaal was unimpressed.

The 26-year-old roars in celebration having scored against Preston North End in the FA Cup last season

Van Gaal (centre) has frustrated Manchester United fans with the omission of Herrera from their midfield

Some wondered if, because Herrera was a David Moyes target, the Dutchman was trying to prove a point.

As late as February he had completed just one 90 minutes since that 5-3 humbling at Leicester City in September.

But after being brought back for the 3-1 FA Cup triumph at Preston North End, Herrera wasted no time in showing United fans what they were missing.

Morgan Schneiderlin, in action against Newcastle on Saturday, arrived this summer from Southampton

Bastian Schweinsteiger looks on at Old Trafford (left), but seems off the pace since signing in the summer

Suddenly he was one of the first names on the team sheet and his re-emergence coincided with the side playing the best football of Van Gaal's tenure.

Perhaps the peak came in the 4-2 derby win over City - an afternoon that was supposed to kickstart the new post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

However, Van Gaal remained unconvinced and a stuttering end to the season in which Herrera picked up three yellow cards in six games may have sealed his fate.

Over the summer the arrivals of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger lowered his place in a packed pecking order.

The Spaniard celebrates in front of the Old Trafford faithful having scored against Arsenal last season

And while the new boys will take time to gel, Van Gaal's use of Adnan Januzaj ahead of Herrera has left some scratching their heads.

The Belgian youngster's inclusion as a number 10, which saw a previously-influential Juan Mata shifted to the right wing, does not seem to have worked.

While Januzaj may well mature into a United great (despite the feeling he has been around for ages he is still only 20), at the moment it looks like a strong wind off the nearby Ship Canal would blow him over.

So will the manager turn again to Herrera?

Herrera celebrates with his United team mates during a Manchester derby victory last season

Van Gaal employs a methodical, possession-based approach - something which is at odds with the 26-year-old's maverick streak.

But during the bore draw with Newcastle, United were crying out for someone to take a risk.

While their midweek trip to Belgium to protect a 3-1 lead over Club Brugge may not be the right moment, Sunday's trip to South Wales may well be.

There is a sign in the floor outside Swansea train station that reads 'ambition is critical'.

For fans of United, that has always been the case.

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