Manchester United benchwarmer Radamel Falcao sent a message to Louis van Gaal with two clinical goals for Colombia in their friendly in Bahrain on Thursday night.

Falcao struck twice in four minutes for Colombia’s second and third goals in a 6-0 thrashing of the world No 103-ranked side at the Bahrain National Stadium.

The 29-year-old has been craving regular football having not started for his club since February 28 but delivered as he so often has for national team head coach Jose Pekerman.

First though, Falcao was the provider for fellow striker Carlos Bacca to open the scoring on 14 minutes after Chelsea’s Juan Cuadrado hit the post early on.

Showing strength at the back post Falcao headed back to Bacca at the top of the six-yard box for the Sevilla marksman to drill home the finish.

Captain Falcao then stepped up in the 32nd minute to get himself on the scoresheet with a clinical left-footed volley after a looping ball over the top of the flagging Bahrain defence.

Falcao’s second came moments later, again with a first-time finish, but this time after his explosive run between defenders was met with a well-weighted through ball.

The strike, which it must be said took a significant deflection, took Falcao’s international tally to 23 in 55 matches, just one short of his country’s all-time top-scorer Arnoldo Iguaran’s 24 from 68.

After the break Adrian Ramos came off the bench to add his second goal in the same amount of international appearances after a deft pass from Inter Milan’s Fredy Guarin for 4-0.

After Pekerman decided his star man had had enough after 72 minutes, Real Valladolid’s Johan Mojica and Mexico-based Andres Renteria came off the bench to continue his work with goals five and six respectively to wrap up the mismatch.

Despite his personal tally getting a boost, Falcao made a point to commend his team’s effort after the match.

‘Great victory today against Bahrain,’ he wrote on his Instagram page. ‘The most important think, the amazing team work!!! Go Colombia.’

Falcao has scored just four times in 22 appearances since coming to Old Trafford on loan from Monaco and is almost certain to go elsewhere in the summer.

But with some sharp running and eagle eye for goal – at least twice – he showed glimpses of the reasons why the club thought him worthy of £260,000-a-week for this season.

He should have left the pitch with a hat-trick, to be fair, with a golden chance at the far post on 49 minutes squandered following a poor Bahraini clearance from a free-kick.

Falcao’s last goal for Van Gaal’s side came on January 31 when he scored United’s second in a 3-1 defeat of Leicester.

His most recently involvement under Van Gaal has been minimal – as an 83rd minute substitute in wins against Liverpool and Tottenham after being hooked after 68 minutes with United 1-0 up against Sunderland – as the Dutchman puts his faith in Wayne Rooney with support from Danny Welbeck and Juan Mata in the absence of Robin Van Persie.

Colombia’s match in Riffa served as a warm-up for the Copa America in Chile from June 11 to July 4 at which they will be hoping to see the return of Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez who is still recovering foot injury.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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