Former Manchester United coach Phil Neville would like to see Juan Mata played centrally.

Neville was impressed by Mata in victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

Neville wrote for BBC Sport: "What he gives the team is control in midfield with the way he uses the ball and he is a goal threat too.

"He likes to play the ball over the top for the striker or slip balls through and, with Michael Carrick being sidelined recently, United have lacked that sort of guile.

"I would love to see him in a central position behind Rooney but against Spurs, you saw him use all of his footballing intelligence on the right-hand side.

"He held the ball up brilliantly, took up such clever positions on the pitch and linked up superbly with Ander Herrera.

"Mata looked to come infield all the time and helped create passing triangles all over the pitch which totally bypassed Spurs. There were times when they could not get near the ball."