Former Manchester United winger Keith Gillespie admits it will be difficult for Adnan Januzaj to play regular first-team football at Old Trafford this season.
Despite impressing in 2013/14, the Belgium international, 19, has failed to start any of the Red Devils’ first four English Premier League matches this term, but he has appeared in each as a substitute.
Gillespie believes manager Louis van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system does not allow for attacking players like Januzaj and he is right. Sort of.
“Unfortunately, with the embarrassment of riches Manchester United have at the moment, he’s not first choice,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
“He’s still young though and is learning the game. He needs games to bring out his potential.
“Last season was very poor for United, but he was probably the one shining light in a team which didn’t perform
“Just look at the players in the team now, the likes of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.
“He’s a winger and I’m not sure he can adapt and play as a wing back. He needs to play further forward. It’s very difficult to fit him in to the system.”
Januzaj is certainly not a wing-back; however, in a 5-3-2, he can still play centrally as a No. 10, and in a 4-4-2 diamond, he can feature as the No. 10 or one of the central midfielders.
Fresh off scoring a hat-trick for United’s Under-21 side against Sunderland on Monday, Januzaj is working hard on the other aspects of his game, including defensive contribution, to impress LVG.
“Of course, I played a lot of games last season and I’m trying to impress the manager once again and get games again this year as well,” Januzaj said.
“I tried to do my best. Obviously, even if it’s reserves level, I always have to show myself and improve.
“I got a hat-trick but I think I worked hard defensively as well and these are the kind of things I have to do now and at first-team level.
“I don’t do it for any other people but for myself. I look after myself. Even if I have to play Under-18s, I have to do it and try to improve every time I play.”
Januzaj, a member of Belgium’s 23-man World Cup squad this summer, bagged four goals and three assists in 27 league appearances for United last season.
He has been garnering interest from French champions Paris Saint-Germain in recent times, and could ultimately decide to move on if he fails to establish himself as a regular starter in Manchester.
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