Radamel Falcao’s struggle for form continued last night as he failed to score for Manchester United’s under-21 side, against Tottenham Hotspur, before being substituted after 71 minutes.

The Colombian looked disappointed to be taken off by the coach, Warren Joyce, although this may have been a precaution to ensure he is available to face Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League.

For the under-21s, he was sluggish and twice blocked a team-mate’s goalbound shot.

The forward,who is on a season-long loan from Monaco,

has been an unused replacement in United’s past two games. On Monday, Adnan Januzaj came on as United’s last substitute in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Arsenal.

Full-back Rafael Da Silva, who scored for United with a 30-yard left-foot lob to make the score 1-1, and goalkeeper Victor Valdés were also in the XI last night. Falcao has the final 10 league matches of the season to make his case for a permanent £43m move. He has scored only four times since joining on 1 September, and has found the net just twice in 2015.