Can Juan Mata do the saviour act for Manchester United or is it too late to revive this season?

Manchester United’s club-record £37m move for Juan Mata has prompted questions about whether they need Chelsea’s gifted Spaniard and where manager David Moyes will use him.

As an exhausted Juan Mata left the Old Trafford pitch to a standing -ovation six minutes from full-time on his Manchester United debut, it became clear just what 37.1 million pounds can buy you nowadays. Quality, -charisma and, most importantly of all to David Moyes, the inspiration for three points that may just kick-start United’s spluttering season.

The club-record signing from Chelsea did not score the goal his new supporters wished for, but an assist for Ashley Young’s goal and a key contribution to Robin van Persie’s in a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City was not a bad start.

With Mata making his debut, Van Persie back in the team for the first time since early December and Wayne Rooney close to agreeing a new long-term contract, there was a sense of change at Old Trafford before a ball had even been kicked against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.

Moyes hinted as much in his programme notes for the game. Every trial and tribulation of his first season in charge as Sir Alex -Ferguson’s successor has been written in Moyes’ demeanour, but he delivered a clear statement of intent.
Mata’s signing may have implications for the biggest names at Old Trafford simply because of his favoured position behind the striker.

Rooney’s future is still the subject of speculation, while Van Persie is 31 this year and appears to have regressed to his previous injury-troubled years after a golden spell at Arsenal and inspiring United to the title last season.

Moyes could use Van Persie as his main striker and a combination of Mata, Rooney and Januzaj behind while picking two holding midfielders - but this would be desperately narrow.

It is a tricky puzzle and may delay the use of 18-year-old Januzaj in his best position - although he still needs the decision-making skills that come with maturity - while the Mata deal sounds ominous for Kagawa.

Mata’s arrival may also signal the start of the serious rebuilding process by Moyes. All the evidence this season suggests United need a major overhaul and there is no obvious downside to signing a player who has proved so impressively that he can cope with the rigours of the Premier League and exert influence on the biggest games.

Mata is a wonderful talent, just ask Chelsea’s supporters who adore him, but he is a fine adornment to United’s squad rather than a solution to the most pressing problem.

Moyes still has to find that player to fill the gaps left behind by Roy Keane and Paul Scholes over the years. Mata’s arrival will add gloss and star quality but the major flaw still remains.

This is a fading United squad that is out of two domestic cup competitions, 14 points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and no longer serious contenders to win the Champions League. It needs all the help it can get where it can get it.