Donny van de Beek missed out on Manchester United’s starting line-up once again at the weekend.
But there was progress. Van de Beek came off the bench to make his first Manchester United appearance of the 2021/22 season.
Van de Beek came on for the final six minutes plus stoppage time and he was involved in the build up to Jesse Lingard’s goal.
After failing to feature at all in United’s opening three matches, Van de Beek’s agent Guido Albers had been quite outspoken in his disappointment.
Albers spoke to Talksport at the start of September discussing his client, having admitted trying to secure him a loan move to Everton [via The Athletic].
Van de Beek came out to back himself earlier in the week, speaking to Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe With Five Youtube channel about his United prospects.
After coming off the bench at the weekend against Newcastle in the 4-1 win, Albers posted a simple message to Instagram which was subsequently shared by Van de Beek, which read ‘100% Hard Work’.
Making progress?
After featuring in pre-season, Van de Beek would have hoped for more than just six minutes from his opening four games.
With Fred left out of the side despite suspension being overturned and Scott McTominay not making the matchday squad due to fitness, Van de Beek stood a decent chance of making the starting line-up.
He was still omitted, with Solskjaer using Paul Pogba in one of the two deeper midfield roles along with Nemanja Matic.
Matic though is more defensively disciplined and United needed this type of balance to accommodate the rest of the attacking players in the side.
Speaking after the game, Solskjaer told the club website: “I’m really pleased for everyone who came on. Donny [van de Beek] had his first taste of minutes with a crowd – what Man United [really] feels like.
“He keeps working hard, he’s such a professional and top lad and he’ll get his minutes.”
It is going to remain tough for Van de Beek to establish himself as a regular in this side, but he is going to give it his best shot and try and make the most of each opportunity he has.
There is no point in his agent kicking up a fuss now, and he appears to realise this. Van de Beek just needs to work as hard as he can and give this season everything he can.
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