Manchester United Must Keep Hold of Juan Mata for as Long as Possible

At this point, it's fair to say that Juan Mata is the undisputed champion of the semi-regular cup run out, rotation role.

The man loves a cup appearance more than John Cena loves jean shorts. It's what he's good at, but has also reduced his image to nothing more than a bit-part player, which does him no justice. Mata set up the first goal and scored the second while proving a constant creative threat in a man of the match performance during Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

It was a loud reminder of just how important he can be to the team and why the club must keep him on the books.

Mata, now 32, has quietly been phased out of United's starting XI which now prides itself on explosive and fast counter-attacking football, and is instead used as an option from the substitutes. He was on the bench 19 times in the Premier League last season and made 11 appearances from the sidelines; only eight league appearances last season came as starts.

It's by no means a bad thing; a player as skilful as Mata coming off the bench is sometimes key in unlocking a stubborn defence, and it shows that the Red Devils have progressed with their attacking options. At this point, Mata has been at United since 2014 and is unlikely to show displeasure with his role, but it's paramount that the club continue to recognise his importance in the coming months and seasons.

Mata is much more than just an experienced squad player; he possesses an unbelievable footballing brain and still has an incredible amount of life left in him on the pitch, making him vital to the team both on the training ground and on matchdays.

50 goals and 47 assists in 257 appearances for Manchester United is a formidable record, but doesn't do him justice. Perhaps the biggest regret United fans have is not seeing their Spanish magician being given a run as the out-and-out number ten during his peak years. He's largely been used as a makeshift right winger, drifting inside and unlocking defences by creating neat passing combinations and making intelligent moves off the ball.

If his off the ball work counted for assists, Mata's numbers would be even higher. His movement and vision to create chances and space for teammates is second to none, and it's a shame that only now are United regularly playing with a number ten under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Still, the fact that he plays a role in the side despite the likes of Bruno Fernandes and now Donny van de Beek occupying the roles he typically would is testament to his abilities.

When the going gets tough for United, Mata's tricky footwork, tireless work ethic that sees him covering incredible distance, and outstanding reading of the game make him the perfect option for any game. The fact that he's constantly two steps ahead of everyone else is key to his longevity and allows him to still excel in a fast-paced United side that is now reliant on pace on the break.

It's precisely this ability that can either make him the unsung hero, or the fan favourite once in a while whenever he pops up with a major contribution. Fans will never forget his emphatic bicycle kick away to Liverpool and they shouldn't, because he's still more than capable of pulling off moments like that for Solskjaer's side this season.

But it's not just on the pitch where Mata serves a purpose. His important work will come from the training ground. United under Solskjaer have been much more open to using their famous youth academy once more; he gave eight academy graduates their senior debut last season, with many of them often taking part in first-team training sessions. Having someone like Mata on the training ground provides invaluable opportunities for learning. Not only will his football magic rub off on creative players, but his experience, wisdom and his incredible professionalism will too, which often goes unnoticed.

While James Garner and Dylan Levitt have headed out on loan for first-team experience this season, Mata being in their ears last season would've been experience that will help them for the rest of their careers. He needs to be given the chance to play the role again this season, and going forward, too. There's no replacing a midfielder with his level of ability and wisdom.

Yes, it's time to accept that all good things must come to an end, and soon enough we'll reach a point where Mata's impeccable football brain won't be enough for him to keep up with the physical demands of the Premier League. But we're not there yet and he's shown no signs of things moving that way.

United have a hidden gem in the tricky Spaniard both on the pitch and behind the scenes; he's already playing a crucial role at the club and will continue to do so, it's just up to the club to recognise this and keep him around for as long as they can.