Five things Van Gaal must change for the Manchester derby game

Manchester United escaped from Russia with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night after their second-half performance against CSKA Moscow helped to make up for a lethargic and inspiration-free opening period.

But they may not be so lucky on Sunday if they start in a similarly sluggish fashion when they host neighbours Manchester City in the first derby of the Premier League season. And there are lessons Louis van Gaal could learn from their bittersweet Champions League experience at the Arena Khimki.

Here are five changes the United manager should seriously consider making before his team takes to the field in Sunday's big one at Old Trafford.

RETURN MARTIAL TO STRIKING ROLE

There was a short period during the second half in Moscow which told you everything you needed to know about Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney's differing trajectories right now.

When Rooney managed to shrug off his marker and meet Ander Herrera's inviting right-wing cross at the near post, his flick-headed attempt landed tamely into the arms of Igor Akinfeev. Moments later a more difficult chance landed on the head of Martial from Antonio Valencia's centre from the bye-line, and the Frenchman steered expertly off the inside of the far post and beyond the prone goalkeeper.

Martial is United's most clinical finisher, and given that this side is not creating an abundance of chances right now they need to have their striker getting into the box as often as possible. Rooney's goal at Everton came from one of three clear one-on-one chances, and you can't help but feel that Martial would have at least doubled that output had he been put in the same situation.

What Van Gaal does with Rooney should he return Martial to the focal point is open to suggestion. The England skipper has been employed in the No.10 role for a fair chunk of this season so far, while the manager has also used him in central midfield in the past. But the bottom line is that he is not the best centre-forward at the club, and United need a more prolific outlet leading their line.

RECALL JUAN MATA

It is understandable that a manager would want to rest his star players every now and again, but that is what the Capital One Cup is usually used for. When Van Gaal decided to sit Juan Mata for the first time this season, he did so in a key Champions League fixture.

To this point, Mata has arguably been United's Player of the Season. His ability to change the pace of the game and find new angles of attack at times when the Red Devils look one-dimensional has been a key factor in a number of matches.

He was the man who turned the trip to Southampton on its head after a poor start. It was the Spaniard who also dragged United up by the boot straps against Wolfsburg in the Champions League, and has regularly been at the hub of United's most creative moments.

Van Gaal's reasoning for his removal against Everton last week was convincing enough, explaining that Jesse Lingard's more direct style was used to keep the Toffees on the back foot. But against City they are going to need Mata's experience and his guile in tight spaces. He's had his rest, now United need their best player back for their biggest game yet.

REPLACE DELAY BLIND WITH MARCOS ROJO

Marcos Rojo made the most of his return to the first-team spotlight on Saturday by attacking with great energy and delivering a wonderful cross for Ander Herrera to double United's lead on the way to a 3-0 win. Just four days later, though, CSKA Moscow were busy exploiting his weaker defensive abilities.

Having frequently looked exposed as a left-back during his short spell at Spartak Moscow earlier in the decade, it was no surprise that neighbours CSKA saw Rojo as a potential shortfall in the United side. And when they attacked down his flank they generally made hay, with the Argentine struggling to stay afloat before eventually being replaced by Daley Blind. He might even have given away a penalty on another night after a clumsy handball offence.

Against City, United will need a solid left side more than they will treasure a barnstorming attacking full-back. Manuel Pellegrini's side thrive on their pacy counter-attacks, as exemplified by Kevin de Bruyne's late winner against Sevilla, and to that end Blind would be a far more sensible pick than Rojo.

Luke Shaw's broken leg has made for a huge gap in the United defensive line, and there must be plenty of mixing and matching for the remainder of the season as Van Gaal assesses the needs of his team on a match-by-match basis. And on Sunday, Rojo is simply not worth the risk when Blind can provide a far more sturdy prospect in United's own half.

EMPLOY A HIGHER PACED APPROACH

Something changed on Wednesday night. While United were just as laboured and short on urgency as they have often been at the start of games this season, Louis van Gaal finally acknowledged a lack of speed in his side's play.

On many an occasion this term, the Dutchman has interpreted a first-half pass-athon as "dominance" regardless of how many chances have been created as a result. But in Moscow he was the first to concede that there had been a lifelessness about his team's approach before the break.

"I was disappointed at half-time because we were playing too slow," he told BT Sport after the game. "We had a lot of ball possession but you have to create something with that ball possession, and we didn’t create so much."

This weekend they cannot afford to approach the game in the same way. Just as a slow build-up simply played into Arsenal's hands when United went to north London earlier this month, they could also find themselves gifting City with three points if they don't push the neighbours onto the back foot with a high-paced, more probing style of football than they have often displayed this term.

The inclusion of Ander Herrera has generally helped United to play with greater energy this term, but it is in Van Gaal's structure that their lack of pace emanates and as such the Dutchman must work with his players on taking the game to City in a less pragmatic fashion than has been their way so often this season.

BRING IN CARRICK FOR SCHWEINSTEIGER

Michael Carrick's reputation over the years has arguably been inflated by the dearth of ball-playing midfielders produced by English clubs. When you are the only one able to perform a particular duty, your value inevitably increases.

But the former West Ham and Tottenham star remains a key squad member at Old Trafford despite turning 34 shortly before the season's start. While the signings of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin have edged him to the periphery of the first XI, Carrick retains that ability to do something different in the centre of the park.

His lack of mobility makes him a poor match with Schweinsteiger, particularly against more athletic outfits such as City, with the Arsenal hammering a prime example as to what can happen without a more agile defensive shield in the centre of the park. But if United can offer the greater movement in the final third than was evident during the second half in Moscow then Carrick is the perfect type of player to find the runs with accurate passing.

While he might not be the kind of midfielder who will drive teams forward and make things happen off his own back, he most certainly can supplement mobile attacking team-mates with delicate delivery. If United are going to look to knock City out of their stride at the back, Carrick's inclusion can only help their cause.