Scott McTominay sends message to Man Utd critics over Donny van de Beek's stuttering start

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has backed Donny van de Beek to be a success at the club, claiming the Dutchman needs time to adapt to the league and settle in Manchester.

Van de Beek completed a £40m move from Ajax over the summer but he is yet to start a Premier League game.

He was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea at the weekend, with United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer attracting criticism over the 23-year-old's lack of game-time.

Dutch legend Marco van Basten claimed Van de Beek "should not have gone to Manchester United " and instead "waited for better prospects and signed for another club."

Donny van de Beek's lack of playing time at Manchester United has come in for intense scrutiny (GETTY)

Former United defender Patrice Evra questioned why he was bought, telling Sky Sports: "He's watching the game from the stand every game. We don't need him, that's the truth."

Fellow ex-United star Gary Neville added that Solskjaer's use of Van de Beek was "a bit of a mystery" and claimed the player "must be thinking: 'What am I doing here?'"

However, Solskjaer is adamant that Van de Beek will get plenty of game-time this season and McTominay has echoed his manager's comments.

Speaking ahead of United's Champions League game against RB Leipzig, the Scotland international said: "You can see the way Donny comes to training every day, a big smile on his face, wanting to work hard, wanting to really impress everybody.

"I'm so confident Donny will be such an important figure in this team and throughout the whole season. The way he's come in has lifted everyone else along with Alex [Telles], Edinson [Cavani], big signings like those who are top quality players can really lift the dressing room.

"I feel like we've seen that already with the way Alex played in Paris and obviously Donny coming off the bench and showing what ability he has got.

"I feel like there’s no time to panic for Donny. People can be so quick to come to an assumption that he's not playing and things like that.

"But give him time, let him adapt to the league, let him settle into his new house or wherever he is living and really let him concentrate on his season."