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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Richard Fay

Donny van de Beek hints at best position ahead of Manchester United debut

Donny van de Beek has suggested that his best position could be as an attacking midfielder ahead of his Manchester United debut.

The Dutch international remains United's only signing of the summer following his arrival from Ajax after signing a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

Van de Beek is in line to make his senior United debut when they face Crystal Palace this weekend but uncertainty remains over his best position in the squad.

The 23-year-old insists he has the versatility to play anywhere in the midfield and started in a deep-lying role in last weekend's friendly loss to Aston Villa, but he has hinted at a preference to play in a more advanced role due to his ability to make clever runs into the box.

"I play everywhere on the midfield," Van de Beek told Stadium Astro. "Last season I changed a lot, sometimes a number 6, number 8, number 10. It doesn't matter so much, but I think one of my strengths is to come in the box and score goals, making assists.

"If you have this freedom then you can play everywhere I think. The balance always has to be good in the team, you have to play smart."

When pressed further on the issue, Van de Beek also revealed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a huge admirer of the way in which he gets involved with attacking play.

Van de Beek added: "He said one of my strengths is to go in the box, to make runs. He said also to talk to teammates, somebody can stay and another can go. The balance has to be good."

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