Juan Mata emulates Ander Herrera by winning Manchester United Player of the Month award

Manchester United fans have voted former Chelsea star Juan Mata as the club's Player of the Month for March following his brace against Liverpool even though the Spaniard started only two games during the month.

The former Blues hero fell out of favour with Louis van Gaal after the victory over QPR on January 17, and was benched during the Premier League games against Leicester, West Ham, Burnley, Swansea, Sunderland and Newcastle, as well as the FA Cup games with Preston North End and Arsenal.

However the Asturian playmaker seized the absence of Angel Di Maria to return to the line-up during the impressive 3-0 victory over Tottenham before scoring two goals and earning the Man of the Match award in the 2-1 win at Anfield.

The United fans have paid their tribute to the Spaniard by voting him as the club's best player March, even though he played only eight minutes in the month before the Spurs game.

Mata replaced his friend Ander Herrera as the fans' player of the month, after the former Athletic Bilbao midfielder claimed the award on February in similar circumstances.

Herrera barely played during December and January and also had to overcome Van Gaal's exile before becoming a hero for the supporters in February.