Adnan must prove himself- Van Gaal

Adnan Januzaj faces a battle to convince Louis van Gaal he can be a key figure in the Manchester United manager's long term plans. 

The young Belgian was the only creative spark in an otherwise dismal season under David Moyes' last season.
But Saturday's start against Leicester City was the 19 year old's first in the Premier League since early November.

Juan Mata has become van Gaal's first choice creator in the engine room and Januzaj has been forced out of the picture with speculation about his future- both Everton and big-spending French champions PSG have shown interest.

Van Gaal  says Januzaj needs to prove himself on the Carrington training ground to force his hand on a permanent basis. 

"The competition is high- this is the same with Darren Fletcher who is a very good player, but I have to compare him with Michael Carrick and Daley Blind who are also playing in that position" explained van Gaal.

Fletcher lost out to Carrick and Blind in that battle and now Januzaj faces a similar challenge to dislodge Mata. 

"It is also like Januzaj and this is a problem- I have to compare with Mata because they play the same position in my team but in the next press conference you shall ask "Why? Why is Mata not playing? so I am very pleased you asked about Januzaj and not Mata.

"I have to choose and for now I choose Januzaj but I've said to Mata, I've said to  Falcao and I've said to Januzaj that I am looking every week, every day and they have to show it.

"Januzaj has the ability and talent- he would not be in Manchester United if he did not have this- but it is about showing me that can perform.”

Januzaj was just pleased to be given the chance to play the full 90 minutes.
He said:
“I haven't played too much, so it was good to be given a full game, I was tired and got cramp in the last 15 minutes but I knew I had a job to do.
“Danny Simpson was a tough opponent to get past on the wing and I really enjoyed the battle between the two of us.”