Let Anderson play. By Mayur Joshi @MediJosh

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Brazilian and for some reason I still believe that he can become a great midfield player for United. So much was expected of him since his transfer from Porto, which cost United between £17m and £25m depending on which report you read. But he hasn’t yet reached his potential. Why is that?

I personally think that there are a number of factors in this. He certainly started promisingly and has become something of a cult figure with the fans as a result of his early energetic displays but a combination of injuries and being played out of position (in my opinion) have hindered his progress.

He arrived here with a reputation as an attacking midfielder with creative instincts; so much so he was labelled the “new Ronaldinho” by Brazilian fans and press. The comparisons don’t seem apt at this time but a brief look at his YouTube videos prior to joining United give you a glimpse of why he came with that reputation.

They are a mix of absurd skill, attacking thrust and devastating finishing; something that every United fan was relishing the prospect of watching at Old Trafford. He even has a passing resemblance to the man who was once touted as Beckham’s replacement. Unfortunately, in recent times, the physical comparisons have become more appropriate.

All the signs looked good but it didn’t quite materialise the way we had all envisaged. Played in a more conventional midfield role than I had anticipated, Anderson has become something of a box-to-box midfielder with some defensive responsibilities. This has always seemed like a waste to me and was confirmed, in part, by his excellent performances towards the end of last season whilst playing in a more advanced role than we have become accustomed to at Old Trafford.

I’m a firm believer that he has the creativity, passing range and technical ability to become a serious attacking threat but it seems to me that his physical attributes have become the focal point of his role in the last few years: His energy, drive, pace and strength are useful features of his game and he has performed admirably, at times, against top players like Gerrard, Fabregas and Lampard. But those are not the skills that come naturally to his game and, consequently, he has struggled for consistency and, at times, confidence. Hopefully he will get the opportunity to express himself as an attacking threat a lot more this season.

Another thing that will undoubtedly benefit him is the full pre-season that he is having with the rest of the squad in the USA. A series of injuries over the last few years has meant he is yet to have a consistent run of 10-15 matches to really stake his claim in the side. He has regularly come back from these injuries looking a little heavier than he maybe should do and it seems to take him a bit longer than most to get back in the groove of things. Hopefully he will be able to have a full season with the first team and we can then make a fully informed decision as to whether he really has a future at the club.

Personally, I would love it if he stepped up in a similar way to Nani, who had his best season yet for United; but, if we’re looking for him to replace Scholes it isn’t going to happen, much like how Nani is not a replacement for Giggs or Ronaldo. Let Anderson be himself and I think we will see once again why he was compared to one of the most exciting players I have had the pleasure of watching. And if that happens everyone will forget about that Dutch bloke playing in Italy…Wesley who?