Manchester United: Marouane Fellaini urges Louis van Gaal to deploy him in midfield

Marouane Fellaini has revealed that he would prefer playing in midfield than as a forward like Louis van Gaal has habitually deployed him this season. The Belgian has been asked to cover for Wayne Rooney when the England international was out with injury but the former Everton man believes he can offer more in midfield than as the lone man up front.

Fellaini came into the team after missing Manchester United's first three games where he was unavailable due to suspension picked up in the final game of last season against Hull City. His presence has given Van Gaal a different option up front, allowing him to loop the ball into the box from where the 27-year-old can take it down and lay it off to his more cultured teammates.

The likes of Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata are all known for their technical ability but are not strong enough to hold the ball up front and Fellaini's presence gives them the option to run behind the Belgian and play around the opposition defence. The former Everton man's value in midfield has further depreciated owing to Van Gaal's strength in depth in that position, with the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick all vying for that spot.

"When the manager asks me to play somewhere, I play there," Fellaini told Bleacher Report, as quoted by Goal. "But my best position is midfield."

The player also came in defence of his manager who has recently come under a lot of flak over his training methods and dispelled any notion that the atmosphere in the training ground is strict. "We laugh a lot. That's normal - we're human," he continued. "But on the pitch, we are serious.

"We have to win something because we're Manchester United. We're a massive club. We have to win."

The Red Devils have progressed into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a 3-0 win over Ipswich Town at home and will face Championship side Middlesbrough in the next round in October.