Gary Neville suggests a change of role may be required to accommodate Juan Mata in the Manchester United line-up.

The recent emergence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan has seen the Spaniard dropped to the bench by Jose Mourinho.

According to former captain Neville, Mata lacks the pace to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front or to play out wide as a winger, meaning Mourinho may have to switch him to a less advanced central role if he wants to return to the starting XI.

"I don't think it's a day to dismiss Juan Mata. It's better to talk about the positives," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast after Sunday's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, in which Mkhitaryan scored a lovely winner.

"I would always question whether Juan Mata has got a place in this Manchester United team in a wide area in the way that Manchester United should play.

"They should play with players that are mobile in wide areas, in my opinion. I think if Juan Mata was going to come back in it would have to be in one of the three midfield positions or as a No 10.

"For me, I don't think it's the end of Juan Mata. I think he's been pretty good this season when he has played and I don't think he had done much wrong.

"To me it looks as better balance [without him]. When you have Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, you've got a player who is immobile and can't run in behind, but holds the ball up really well.

"That tells you that you have to play with pace either side of him. What worries defences is pace, so from my point of view, the balance is right now."