Stats: The importance of Radamel Falcao to Manchester United

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Manchester United are yet to make a decision on the future of Radamel Falcao, but important numbers suggest he will be worth keeping around.

Manchester United moved for Radamel Falcao late in the 2014 summer window for one reason and one reason alone, he is a goalscorer.

The Colombian striker has posted mind-boggling numbers over the last few seasons, while on the books at Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco.

He may have suffered a serious knee injury last season, which dashed his World Cup dream, but United were only too happy to take a punt when the transfer door swung open.

Securing Falcao’s services has come at a price – a fairly sizeable one for a season-long loan – and will cost the Red Devils significantly more if they decide to make the deal permanent.

Question marks have been raised as to the 28-year-old’s value over the course of the 2014/15 campaign, with Louis van Gaal among those seemingly yet to be convinced by his form and fitness.

It has to be noted, though, that Falcao has made an important contribution during the limited game time he has been afforded.

He has been given less than half the number of Premier League minutes as striking colleagues Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, but boasts a strike rate to stand alongside the pair.

All three forwards have failed to break the one-in-two barrier this season, but Falcao can point to the fact that he has never been given a regular run in which to build confidence and momentum.

He has, however, shown when called upon that he is worth keeping around.

After a full season in England, he would be expected to kick on in 2015/16 and would provide an intriguing alternative to Rooney and Van Persie, with James Wilson inexperienced and Javier Hernandez currently out of sight and mind at Real Madrid.

Falcao can also point to the fact that his four top-flight goals have helped to deliver eight points – with a match-winner netted against Everton, levellers versus Aston Villa and Stoke City and an all important second in a 3-1 victory over Leicester City.