Donny van de Beek has endured a difficult couple of years at Manchester United and the Dutchman is looking less likely to break into the side with each passing week.
The former Ajax star joined United in 2020 but he was restricted to just four starts in his first season and he was sent on loan to Everton for the second half of his second campaign.
There was an expectation that he could resurrect his career at Old Trafford this summer following the arrival of Erik ten Hag, with whom he thrived at Ajax.
Unfortunately for Van de Beek, that has not happened and he has not featured since his four-minute cameo against Liverpool in October.
Speaking after Thursday’s 3-2 win over Omonia in the Europa League, Ten Hag was quizzed on Van de Beek and the manager put his lack of minutes down to injuries.
🗣 "You have to be available."
Erik ten Hag explains why it's been difficult for Donny van de Beek to play regularly for Man United pic.twitter.com/zzm9WKQPqw
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 7, 2022
Read more: Everton handed huge injury boost ahead of Man United clash
“He has to be fit,” Ten Hag told Football Daily after the game, as seen above. “Obviously, that is his disadvantage. He is now, for two and a half years here and he had a pre-season that was quite OK.
“Then his chances will come. I think when he came on against Brighton, he came as a sub, he did very well. But you have to be available.
“When you are not available, you cannot get a place in the first eleven. Now he has to make sure that he gets fit and fight for his position.”
Van de Beek will have two years remaining on his United deal by the end of this season and if his position has not improved by then, it’s likely that United will look for suitors.
