Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reiterated Fred will 'come good' at Manchester United after the midfielder shone in their Europa League win over Astana.
Fred started for the first time in 148 days and completed 90 minutes in an impressive performance where he assisted Mason Greenwood's 73rd-minute winner.
Solskjaer brought Fred on in the weekend win over Leicester and the Brazilian is likely to stay in the squad for the weekend Premier League trip to West Ham amid doubts over Paul Pogba's fitness.
"He's improving," Solskjaer said of Fred. "He's getting better and better, fitter and fitter and it's great to see he's confident enough on the ball.
"And he's a tenacious little midfielder, he's good on and off the ball. And he'll come good for us."
Solskjaer was not confident United would see out the game against Astana until the final whistle and was dissatisfied with how United played out the game. "When you don't score in the first-half from four or five massive chances you're always wondering if it's one of those nights, you'll get punished for being sloppy.
"Their keeper did well, he made some fantastic saves. I didn't feel confident we'd win the game until the referee blew his whistle, I don't think we didn't played the last 10 or 15 minutes out well and these boys need to learn that as well."
Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong made their full debuts but were substituted in the 68th minute for Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard with the game goalless.
In the other match, Partizan Belgrade and AZ Alkmaar drew 2-2 and Solskjaer is expected to retain faith with the teenagers throughout the group stage phase.
"The main thing now is to get through the group stages," Solskjaer added. "And to do that you need to win your homes games, and get one or two draws away from home or win away from home and then you should be through.
"There'll be plenty of minutes for the boys, definitely, but it's still an experienced side out here with loads of capped internationals."
