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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Erik ten Hag explains what Donny van de Beek will bring to Manchester United after his return

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has indicated Donny van de Beek will get opportunities over the next fortnight now he has returned from injury.

Van de Beek was sidelined for seven weeks with a muscular injury before he returned as a substitute against FC Sheriff, but he has not started for United since December 2021.

The 25-year-old has not lined up in a meaningful Premier League game for United since December 2020 at West Ham - where he was substituted at half-time.

Also read: United give fresh Martial update

Van de Beek has not been included in the Netherlands squad for 18 months and he was predictably omitted from their preliminary World Cup squad by coach Louis van Gaal.

United have five games before the season is halted for the World Cup but Van de Beek is likely to struggle to start in the Premier League, with Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Fred and Scott McTominay ahead of him in midfield and Bruno Fernandes the first-choice playmaker.

"Donny came in the last part and he also had some good positions in between the lines. I think that combination was good," Ten Hag said.

"He was a long time out, I was happy to give him some minutes because you need that to get in the right form. He's had to work himself back.

"He's not even one week in training, same as Harry Maguire, so I was really happy to give Donny and Harry minutes because we need them in the coming weeks.

"When you analyse the season so far, then if he was available he'd get his chance. We need goals and I know Donny is really good in that position to score goals, but he's also really good in defensive transition."

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