Falcao: I'm not happy with lack of game time, but I want to stay at United

The 28-year-old, currently on a season-long loan at Old Trafford from AS Monaco, has struggled to find fitness at United since arriving at the club at the end of the summer transfer window.

And with teenager James Wilson once again selected ahead of the Colombian in Louis van Gaal’s starting line-up against Liverpool, Falcao appears to have fallen to fourth-choice striker. “From my point of view, yes, I want to stay but obviously I have to analyse the situation,” said Falcao, whose only goal for United came in the 2-1 win over Everton at the start of October.

“I’ll see if I play more and see what decision the board takes. But from my point of view, I really want to stay.

“I feel ready for the moment that the team needs me. Whenever I have the opportunity to come on I try to do my best for the coach and I try to help the team.

“Every footballer wants to play, no one is happy when they are not playing, when they are on the bench, but whenever I am given the opportunity, whether it be for five, 10, 20 or 90 minutes, I have to give my best.”

With the season yet to reach its halfway mark, there is clearly still time for Falcao to produce the form and goals that had earned him a billing as one of the world’s great strikers prior to the cruciate ligament injury suffered while playing for Monaco in January.

Falcao still appears short of the physical presence to thrive in the Premier League though, with Van Gaal determined to gradually introduce the former Porto and Atletico Madrid forward into the team.

The cruciate injury clearly took its toll, and his return to action for Monaco at the beginning of August now seems hugely premature and rushed.

But while there are mitigating circumstances for Falcao’s slow start to life at United, the financial reality of his deal with the club is that he must do more, and quickly, to earn a permanent move to Old Trafford.

“We talk a lot, the coach and I,” added Falcao, who tried to speed up his rehabilitation after surgery in the spring to repair the damage in his knee in a failed bid to play in the World Cup.

“He has a philosophy that I respect. I have had an injury, and I have had to wait for the opportunity to play.

“I am very well. I'm almost at 100% now, let's see wait and see what the decision of the coach is, when he wants to use me more.

“We have a group of strikers who are very good and that's good for everyone. That means there is always a level of competition between us, healthy competition, and obviously I am very happy with how the team is doing.”