5 TALKING POINTS MANCHESTER UNITED WIN AGAINST SUNDERLAND

ROONEY ANSWERS VAN GAAL'S CRY FOR GOALS: Louis van Gaal admitted pre-match that a lack of a prolific goalscorer has cost Manchester United a real tilt at the Premier League title. Enter Wayne Rooney, who answered his manager's call for goals with two against Sunderland, ending a drought of nine Premier League games without one. Having been played in a deeper midfield role in recent months, Rooney was restored to his preferred forward position and responded in style. The England captain remains his side's best striker and surely now Van Gaal has no choice but to keep him up top

FALCAO RUNNING OUT OF TIME: The game against Sunderland offered Radamel Falcao the chance to secure a regular place in the side and strike up a partnership with Wayne Rooney in the absence of Robin van Persie. However, up until winning the penalty for United's opening goal the Colombian cut a frustrated figure in attack and only managed a few touches of the ball in the first half. The second period wasn't much better either as Van Gaal, much to the annoyance of the home fans, opted to take off the striker with Sunderland down to 10 men. Time is running out for the 29-year-old to convince United he's worth the £44m they'd have to splash out to sign him

YOUNG DESERVES TO START: Ashley Young has been used as a makeshift left wing-back this season and has quickly adapted to the position. The 29-year-old was played in his more accustomed wide role against Sunderland and he was United's liveliest forward player over the 90 minutes. Young looked the man most likely to find a breakthrough as he went close to scoring on three occasions in the first half. The former Aston Villa star was, perhaps surprisingly, sorely missed for the month he was out of action but his return has given United a boost and with Di Maria struggling for form, maybe it's time he started more regularly

FAN PATIENCE WON'T LAST FOREVER: United fans have been understanding in the acceptance that it will take time for Louis van Gaal to turn things around after last season’s disaster. But you can't escape the fact that there are growing signs of unrest in the stands. The 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Burnley at the start of the month brought about audible boos at half-time and once again the fans voiced their frustrations against Sunderland. All season United have flattered to deceive with below-par performances masked by positive results and if these stodgy showings continue, the fans won't be afraid to continue expressing their discontent.

DI MARIA WAY OFF THE STANDARD: Angel Di Maria has looked a pale shadow of the player who lit up the Premier League in the early weeks of the season. The former Real Madrid man was disappointing in last weekend’s defeat to Swansea and at home to struggling Sunderland he was expected to be the man to supply the ammunition for United's misfiring strikers. Once again, though, he failed to make any kind of impact and was easily outfought by Patrick van Aanholt before he was hooked at half-time.