Man Utd’s Herrera patient despite lack of game time

The club’s reigning player of the year, who made his first league start of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Stoke, has struggled for minutes on the pitch after the arrival of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea.

But the Spaniard was more frustrated at United’s failure to win than by his own situation.

“I am always ready to play,” Herrera said after the match. “I always say the same.

“I am a team player and when the manager needs me I will be there and that’s it. In football there are no surprises.”

Herrera hopes to retain his starting place when United line up on Tuesday for their first Champions League match since December 2015.

Europa League glory last season secured Jose Mourinho’s men safe passage back to the continent’s top competition and they kick off at home to Basle on Tuesday.

“We are ready but we have to respect every opponent and realise where we have come from,” Herrera said in comments published by the British press on Monday.

“We are a big club and maybe the biggest in the world but we were not in the Champions League last season and we have to take it step by step.

“We want to fight for every title. Last season we won three which wasn’t bad for the club, but we did not fight for the Premier League and we were not in the Champions League, so we have to be humble and take it step by step.”