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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Manchester United hero Diego Forlan questions Edinson Cavani playing time

Diego Forlan has questioned compatriot Edinson Cavani's opportunities at Manchester United as he approaches his final months at the club.

After a fine first season where he struck 17 goals, Cavani has missed 23 of United's 40 matches this term and only started six games, scoring twice.

Cavani's tendency to declare himself unavailable for games has started to irk some United supporters and interim manager Ralf Rangnick and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both made it clear Cavani plays on his own terms.

READ MORE: United player ratings of the season so far

The 35-year-old has not made the matchday squad after representing Uruguay during the rounds of international fixtures, making his selection against Leicester on Saturday unlikely. Cavani was poised to start the season as United's starting striker until the club re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo, who regained the number seven from Cavani.

Cavani is out of contract on June 30 and his longest run as a starter this season was four games. His former teammate Forlan believes Cavani has not had a long enough run of successive starts.

"I don't know what has happened with him," Forlan told the MEN . "I know he's been injured so many times, he's been unlucky. And did he have the opportunity to play so many games in a row? If he had that opportunity we would be talking about another Edinson Cavani. Because he scores goals, he's quick, he's strong, very physically strong, it would have been much better.

"When a player is injured one game and then stops and plays another two games it's difficult to get rhythm."

"He had some very good moments and then he got injured many, many times and it's always difficult for a player when you don't have many games in a row.

"At the end of last season, he was doing very well, he scored many important goals for the club, to be playing the final against Villarreal. And then when he came back, he got injured and didn't start the season the way he finished and it's difficult when you get so many injuries. Hopefully, he can start again and have many games in a row because he's a very talented player."

Manchester United Legends take on Liverpool Legends at Old Trafford on Saturday May 21 and all money raised from the event will go to the Manchester United Foundation for its work with young people across Greater Manchester. Tickets are on sale here.

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