Donny van de Beek could save his Manchester United career as an emergency striker

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Manchester United’s need for a goalscorer will see Erik ten Hag look to exhaust every option available to him in the months ahead.

One option at his disposal is to turn to bit-part player Donny van de Beek as an emergency solution.

Van de Beek has barely played this season, partly due to injury, but even when fully fit, he is United’s sixth choice midfielder after Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Scott McTominay.

It would make sense for United to cash in on Van de Beek and use the funds to buy a striker. However if United don’t want to do this, then they have to find a way to utilise the Dutchman.

So what is Donny van de Beek good at?

Well, he has barely shown it at Old Trafford but his top trait is managing to get on the ball in the final third and score goals. This saw him net 41 goals for Ajax. At United he has only two.

The obvious way around this is to get Van de Beek into forward areas more frequently.

Speaking back in the summer when he first took over, Erik ten Hag said of Van de Beek via Metro: “His best position is in the box of the opponent and playing just behind the striker.

“He has a really good smell for being in the right position.”

Erik ten Hag may be trying to implement this already. In the win over Forest, Van de Beek made 10 of his 15 touches in the final third, seeing a shot at goal blocked.

Pushing Van de Beek up as a second striker would be a way to make him more effective when United need a goal, and he could even deputise up front if it gets desperate.

Michael Carrick called it

Former Manchester United caretaker boss Michael Carrick spoke last year of his belief Van de Beek could play a ‘false nine’ role for the club, having seen him do it before under Erik ten Hag.

Speaking at a press conference before one of his three games in charge, Carrick talked up the Dutchman’s versatility.

He said: “Variety can be a real strength. We’ve got ideas where we think Donny is most suited but, as I said, actually he’s so flexible and so adaptable that the two or three positions in and around midfield.

“He even played, you could argue, a false nine for Ajax at times in the Champions League where they ended up getting beat by Tottenham.

“So, yeah, of course we’ve got ideas for it but being so flexible is a real strength and a credit to what he can be for the team.”

A way for Van de Beek to make a difference

At the moment there does not look to be a clear way into the team in midfield for Van de Beek. He failed to seize his chance during the winter friendlies, missing one match due to injury.

Up front United are short of numbers, until a striker arrives at least, and if he can start to make an impact and chip in with a few goals, this is an area where he can add some value to the team.

Long term it may not be a solution for him at United, but in the short term, it’s a way for Van de Beek to make himself useful.