Angel di Maria expects Marcos Rojo to alleviate Manchester United's set-piece problem

Manchester United midfielder Angel di Maria believes that the return of Marcos Rojo into the first team will help them immensely when it comes to dealing with set-pieces.

Di Maria heaped praise on his compatriot, who was also in the Argentine contingent to the 2014 Fifa World Cup, and believes that his aerial presence will be a great asset when dealing with physical teams like Stoke City and Cambridge United.

United have struggled to impose themselves physically this season, especially at set-pieces, where they were easily bundled over by teams with greater height and power.

This is a major issue for Louis van Gaal, who currently finds himself embroiled in a five-way battle for a top four spot, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool making up some lost ground over the past few weeks.

Failure to find a solution to their inability to deal with set-pieces will give opponents the initiative to hit back and conjure a strategy, which will thwart their race in the business end of the season.

"Off the field he's really relaxed, a real family guy, a really good person," di Maria said.

"But on the field he's a very aggressive player, very strong. He plays to the death. He puts it all on the line when he's on the field and I know he will be a great asset to United.

"He does great with free kicks in the area -- he's great at headers. He targets the ball and jumps high. I think he is a great player when it comes to headers," he added.

Rojo's inclusion into the United squad was questioned by all and sundry, but his former Sporting Lisbon teammate Di Maria believes that the player belongs at Old Trafford and deserves every bit of the fee that was paid to bring him here.

"The first time I met him was with the national team. He's a great guy -- very modest, very laid back, very professional and after so many great games and a great World Cup he deserves to play for a great club like United," the Argentine continued.

United have also been linked with a move for Mats Hummels to mollify their problems at the back, but are yet to make a concrete bid for the player.