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Falcao asks United fans for time to find form

Radamel Falcao scored his first Manchester United goal against Everton on Sunday © Getty Images

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Radamel Falcao has warned Manchester United fans that he still needs time to reach his peak after a summer spent recovering from a serious knee injury.

Falcao, who is on loan at United for the season from Monaco, also thanked the club for showing faith in him and taking a gamble on his fitness after he suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in January.

Falcao is expected to join United permanently next summer as long as there has been no set-back in his recovery from the injury, with the striker saying he wants to stay at the club for years to come.

Surgery ruled Falcao out of Colombia's World Cup squad, and while he returned to action in Ligue 1 with two goals in three appearances at the start of this season, he admits United took a gamble on him on deadline day.

The striker opened his account at Old Trafford on Sunday, scoring what proved to be the goal that secured a 2-1 victory over Everton to send United up to fourth in the Premier League.

"Manchester United were the ones that gambled on me when it was very difficult to do so," Falcao told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. "It has been a very difficult year, not just in my professional career.

"What happened at the start of the year [the injury] affected me in every way, but it has also helped me grow as a human being, to think about many things, to mature.

"In terms of my thoughts and plans for the future, I want to stay at Manchester United for the coming years.

"I'm still going to need some time to be OK, but I am feeling very comfortable and very good on the pitch, in harmony with myself, with the ball and with football."

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