Donny van de Beek will be hoping to start three games in a row for Manchester United for first time

Add as preferred source on Google

Despite being a Manchester United player for over two years now Donny van de Beek has still not started three games in a row for the Red Devils.

Having marked his return from injury against Sheriff Tiraspol last month as a substitute, the 25-year-old has started the last two games.

But United’s number 34 flattered to deceive in both starts and failed to grasp the chance handed to him by his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.

With Bruno Fernandes being suspended for Sunday’s defeat at Aston Villa, the Netherlands international was deployed in the attacking midfielder role with playmaker Christian Eriksen playing deeper alongside Casemiro.

But despite producing back-to-back underwhelming performances and struggling to impose himself on the games, Van de Beek will be hoping to break new ground with the Red Devils come tomorrow night.

Van de Beek will be hoping to start three games in a row for Manchester United for first time

While Ten Hag’s patience with his fellow countryman may already be wearing thin, the United boss isn’t likely to write off the out-of-form midfielder so early into his reign.

But with Fernandes likely to come back into the side for tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup clash against Aston Villa, the question is where Van de Beek could play alongside United’s number eight.

The former Sporting Lisbon captain played out on the right-hand side against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian and while United’s Portuguese magnifico didn’t look to love the wide role, he could possibly be deployed there again if Ten Hag opts to start Van de Beek for a third consecutive game.

With Ten Hag naming Van de Beek’s ability to chip in with goals and play in between the lines as some of his key qualities, it seems that the £35m midfielder isn’t likely to be used in a deeper position.

With Antony and Jadon Sancho not yet pictured back in training and Ten Hag stating that Marcus Rashford isn’t particularly comfortable playing out on the right, there is a chance that Fernandes could be asked to do a job out on the right once again.

If that is the case, then Van de Beek could start a third match in a row for Manchester United for the first time.