Nani Looking to Start Against Bolton

Nani made a premature return to the Manchester United side against Marseille and remains the best attacking wide player at the club.

Nani has been vital to the way Manchester United have played this season and there were fears that he would have been out of the side for a lot longer than he actually was. The horror tackle by Jamie Carragher in the defeat at Liverpool left the winger with a badly gashed leg but he is back in the side and should stay there.

What makes Nani so difficult to play against is that he can play in a variety of different roles all over the team. He is quick and agile enough to stay out on the flanks, providing crosses and key passes back into the middle. He is also good enough to cut back inside from either flank and shoot on goal with either foot.

Pace is key to any attacking player because it puts the opposition defence on the back foot and forces them into making mistakes. Nani’s pace has sometimes made him the subject of some over physical challenges and tackling from the opposition but this is just a compliment to what an effective and productive player he has become.

A lot of people have said that Nani’s reading of the game is much better this season. He looks a more mature player in the respect that he can read runs, read the play and communicates with his teammates much better than he has done in previous seasons.

There have even been some comparisons to former United player Cristiano Ronaldo before he left to play for Real Madrid. It’s important for the club to stay on top of these sorts of rumours and sayings because it’s already been reported that there are a few clubs sniffing around United trying to sign the Portuguese ace.

An aspect of Nani’s game which doesn’t get as much attention as it should is dead ball situations. Nani often throws his hat into the ring when it comes to set pieces because he’s one of the best strikers of a football at the club. If there is a free kick or shooting opportunity anywhere close to the opposition penalty area then he will be one of the players queuing up to take it.