Manchester United striker Federico Macheda shaping up to become Old Trafford’s forgotten man

When Federico Macheda wheeled away to celebrate the stoppage-time goal which secured a 3-2 victory against Aston Villa in April 2009, a goal which proved decisive in tilting the balance of the title race back away from Liverpool and back in Manchester United’s favour, the 17-year-old was always going to face a unique challenge in terms of surpassing his explosive arrival on the scene.

But just to raise the bar even higher, the Italian scored a crucial winner again in his next game, six days later, against Sunderland.

In the space of a week, Macheda went from being an unknown teenager in United’s reserves to a player rivalling Cristiano Ronaldo for column inches, albeit briefly.

His Facebook page, which showed him partying with two glamorous blondes, added to his star quality and left United supporters excited about the prospect of another teenage superstar to follow in the footsteps of George Best, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo.

But three-and-a-half years on, the Macheda story is gathering cobwebs and he is back in the reserves – he scored in United’s 1-1 draw at Southampton on Monday – and facing up to life as Old Trafford’s forgotten man.

Had United not been preparing for a Champions League dead-rubber against Romanian champions CFR Cluj on Wednesday evening, Macheda would not even merit a mention this week, especially with Sir Alex Ferguson’s team due to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

But the visit of Cluj brings Macheda’s story in sharp focus and serves as a reminder that he is still on United’s books.

At 21, he is, at best, United’s fifth-choice striker and his opportunities this season – two brief substitute appearances against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup and Galatasaray in the Champions League – reflect his lowly status in Ferguson’s plans.

Since that goal against Villa in 2009, he has only started five Premier League games for United, scoring two more goals. In sixteen appearances in other competitions, he has mustered just one goal.

Macheda regularly shines in pre-season, often scoring more goals on tour than any of his team-mates, but once the serious action begins, he finds himself back among the stiffs having failed to grasp any of his fleeting chances to stake a claim.

And his loan moves, to Sampdoria and Queens Park Rangers, have both been unmitigated disasters, with no goals being scored for either club. At QPR last season, he made just six appearances.

So what happens when Ferguson names his team to face Cluj? The United manager has already admitted he will rest his big names ahead of the City game, so surely this will be make-or-break for Macheda.

If he cannot even get a start in a Champions League game that has no significance whatsoever for United, then his time at Old Trafford must be up.

At 21, Macheda still has years ahead of him, but they are highly unlikely to be as a Manchester United player.

And the sad reality is that he could play for another 15 years and not come close to recreating the ultimate high which launched his career in the first place.