It is being reported in the Daily Mirror that Shinji Kagawa is heading closer to a January exit from Old Trafford, with the Japanese playmaker desperate to ensure he maintains form and fitness ahead of next year's World Cup. Universally admired at Borussia Dortmund for his creative skills and technical ability, Kagawa has struggled to make a sustained impact on the United first team since his £17 million move in the summer of 2012.Where has it all gone wrong for United's diminutive midfielder? Dortmund provided Kagawa with the platform to showcase his talents on the European stage and, if he had remained at the club, there is no doubt he would have maintained a regular starting berth. In the 2011/12 season he played a major role in helping the club to secure their first league and cup double in Bundesliga history. He thrived alongside other creative players including Gotze and Reus and his link up play with star striker Lewandowski proved crucial. Kagawa provided 21 goals and 10 assists from the elaborately named trequartista role, and was the man for the big occasion, scoring Dortmund's first goal in the 5-2 thrashing of arch rivals Bayern Munich in the domestic cup final. Ferguson was in Berlin to watch Kagawa and co destroy the same team that would lift the European Cup 12 months later. The veteran manager must have been licking his lips at the prospect of pairing Kagawa alongside Robin Van Persie in his new look attack. United quickly moved to acquire the player's signature and whilst many questioned why Ferguson hadn't opted for the highly rated Eden Hazard, keen observers of the Bundesliga were in no doubt that signing Kagawa was a very shrewd piece of business. Everything appeared set for Kagawa to flourish under the Old Trafford spotlights. However, a knee ligament injury kept him out of action for three months of last season and when he was deployed it was often in an unfavoured wide attacking role. He ended the season with only 17 Premier League starts. He still managed 6 goals and 3 assists in that time but admitted in June that he wasn't impressed with how his season had panned out, "I am not happy with my performance for the team at all...despite that, it was great we won the League, I just don't feel that I achieved everything that I wanted. For me personally, it wasn't a good season." As Ferguson waved goodbye to the Old Trafford crowd for the last time, Kagawa must have been looking forward to increased opportunities under a new manager. He departed for the Confederations Cup with Japan and produced a string of excellent performances, including a fine goal against Italy. With the furore surrounding Wayne Rooney's future at the club, the door appeared open for Kagawa to build on a modest first season. A month is a long time in football however and Kagawa returned from international duty to find Rooney in scintillating form and a manager telling anyone who cared to listen that keeping hold of the England striker was United's best transfer all summer. With Rooney in such superb form, Kagawa's opportunities to play in his favoured position have been further limited. Initially his absence from first team duties was dismissed as nothing more than fatigue, as a result of playing for his country in the Confederations Cup. Nevertheless, as the season has unfolded Kagawa has remained on bench warming duties, only mustering 3 Premier League appearances. He is yet to complete 90 minutes in the league. Again, Kagawa has been victim of circumstances outside of his control. The meteoric rise of Adnan Januzaj to the first team means Kagawa has moved even further down the pecking order. Januzaj has been one of the few silver linings in Moyes' indifferent start and the expectation of the crowd and the media that the young player will start more games over the season will inevitably lead to his inclusion in many more starting line ups. Moyes cannot be blamed for jumping on the Januzaj bandwagon. There is no doubt that Kagawa has not made the most of the opportunities he has been given, apart from a hat trick against Norwich last season. Despite this, someone of his talent does not become a poor player overnight and if United are going to make the most of his abilities he must be given time in his favoured role. Moyes has conceded that when Kagawa was given his chance at home to Sociedad in October that "his attitude and energy were excellent...when we put him into the No.10 role, and even after it, he was good with Wayne." Unfortunately there can only ever be 22 players on the pitch and it is difficult to see any justification for playing Kagawa in a central attacking role at the current time. If he leaves in January to protect his World Cup ambitions and resurrect a faltering career, would anyone blame him? Jurgen Klopp, Kagawa's manager at Dortmund summed the situation up perfectly "Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United on the left wing! My heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. " Well said Jurgen, well said.
