Ander Herrera has been out and about on Thursday in an attempt to forget Manchester United's defeat by Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup.

United exited the competition at the fourth round stage on penalties on Wednesday night, although there was little the Spanish midfielder could do as an unused substitute all night.

Herrera headed to Pizza Express with a friend in Cheshire before making his way home ahead of Saturday's trip to London to face Crystal Palace.

Ander Herrera leaving a Pizza Express in Cheshire with a friend on Thursday afternoon

The Manchester United midfielder was out and about after being an unused substitute on Wednesday

Herrera sat on the bench as his side were beaten on penalties by Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup

It was a difficult start to the season for Herrera, as he found himself largely on the periphery of the first-team. But having finally forced his way into Louis van Gaal's plans, the midfielder declared he was loving life in the Premier League.

'I feel at home at Manchester United,' he Manchester United's official website. 'I am enjoying the best league in the world. I think it has the best organisation, the best stadiums, the best atmosphere.

'I remember playing against Cambridge in the FA Cup and we waited 25 minutes because the Cambridge fans were coming on a bus and they were delayed.

'I was thinking that’s really, really good because they are thinking about the fans and football is about fans.

'I always say the same – if the footballing world doesn’t think of the fans, it’s going to lose the passion and the love. So I was impressed but I was very happy because the fans come first here.'

Manchester United legend Gary Neville attended an away game with fans in 2008

Herrera says he likes to celebrate with the fans after scoring to say 'thank you' for their support

United legends in the past such as Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand have attended away games with the fans in the stands, and Herrera said, should he be injured or suspended, he would love to do the same thing.

'I would like to go to one away game with the fans one day because our away fans are unbelievable,' he added. 'They are always singing and very noisy and they help us a lot.